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David Ricardo (18 April 1772 – 11 September 1823) was an English political economist. He was one of the most influential of the classical economists, along with Thomas Malthus, Adam Smith, and James Mill.〔Sowell, Thomas (2006). ''On classical economics''. New Haven, CT: Yale University Press.〕〔http://www.policonomics.com/david-ricardo/〕 Perhaps his most important legacy is his theory of comparative advantage, which suggests that a nation should concentrate its resources solely in industries where it is ''most'' internationally competitive while trading with other countries to obtain products either never produced nationally or no longer produced nationally as a result of industry specialisation. In essence, Ricardo promoted the idea of extreme industry specialization by nations, to the point of dismantling internationally competitive and otherwise profitable industries. In this world view Ricardo took as a given the existence of an industry policy aimed at promoting and/or subsidising some national industries to the detriment of others. For Ricardo central planning was a given. Ricardo's theory of comparative advantage has been challenged by, among others, Joan Robinson and Piero Sraffa, but remains the cornerstone of the argument in favour of international free trade. Comparative advantage paved the way for the promotion of globalization via increased international trade, which is the guiding theme in the policies promoted by the OECD and the World Trade Organization, where it is assumed that international trade automatically leads to increased economic prosperity. The results of the implementation of this type of policy agenda are debated and increasingly (controversial ). That said, the assumption that increased levels of international trade is economically beneficial is generally unchallenged in mainstream economics. Ricardo began his professional life as a financial market broker and financial market speculator. As a result he amassed a considerable personal fortune, with his largest windfall coming as a direct result of the carefully planned manipulation of British financial markets which he undertook during the Battle of Waterloo in 1814. Immediately following this questionable financial coup he retired. He was 41 years old. In February 1819 he entered British Parliament following his purchase of a seat in August 1818. He held the seat until his death on September 11, 1823. He was 51 years old. ==Personal life== Born in London, England, Ricardo was the third of 17 children of a Sephardic Jewish family of Portuguese origin who had recently relocated from the Dutch Republic. His father, Abraham Ricardo, was a successful stockbroker.〔 He began working with his father at the age of 14. At age 21, Ricardo eloped with a Quaker, Priscilla Anne Wilkinson, and, against his father's wishes, converted to Christianity.〔Francisco Solano Constancio, Paul Henri Alcide Fonteyraud. 1847. ''(Œuvres complètes de David Ricardo )'', Guillaumin, (pp. v-xlviii): ''A part sa conversion au Christianisme et son mariage avec une femme qu'il eut l'audace grande d'aimer malgré les ordres de son père''〕 This religious difference resulted in estrangement from his family, and he was led to adopt a position of independence.〔Ricardo, David. 1919. ''Principles of Political Economy and Taxation''. G. Bell, p. LIX: "by reason of a religious difference with his father, to adopt a position of independence at a time when he should have been undergoing that academic training"〕 His father disowned him and his mother apparently never spoke to him again. Following his estrangement from his father he started a successful business as a broker with the support of Lubbocks and Forster, an eminent banking house. Although already successful as a broker, he made the bulk of his fortune as a result of speculation on the outcome of the Battle of Waterloo, using methods which today would result in prosecution for (insider trading and market manipulation ). Prior to the battle, Ricardo (posted an observer ) to convey early results of the outcome, he then deliberately created the mistaken impression the French had won by initially openly selling British securities. A market panic ensued. Following this panic he moved to buy British securities at a steep discount. The Sunday Times reported in Ricardo’s obituary, published on 14 September 1823, that during the Battle of Waterloo Ricardo "netted upwards of a million sterling", a huge sum at the time. Following this trading coup, he retired. He purchased Gatcombe Park, an estate in Gloucestershire, now owned by Princess Anne, the Princess Royal. He was appointed High Sheriff of Gloucestershire for 1818–19. Some years into retirement Ricardo became keen to enter Parliament and in August 1818 he secured Lord Portarlington’s borough for £4,000, as part of the terms of a loan of £25,000. As a result, Ricardo entered the House of Commons, representing Portarlington, an Irish rotten borough. He was 47 years of age. His (record in Parliament ) was that of an earnest reformer. He held the seat until his death four years later. Ricardo was a close friend of James Mill. Other notable friends included Jeremy Bentham and Thomas Malthus, with whom Ricardo had a considerable debate (in correspondence) over such things as the role of landowners in a society. He also was a member of Malthus' Political Economy Club, and a member of the King of Clubs. He was one of the original members of The Geological Society.〔 His sister was author Sarah Ricardo-Porter (e.g., ''Conversations in Arithmetic''). 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「David Ricardo」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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