Classical Economics

Recite Adam Smith while a string quartet plays. Discuss Thomas Malthus as part of an operatic recitative. That's classical economics. Or at least...economics done classically.

Classical economics is the first wave of the theorists in the subject we now think of as "economics." They published from the late 18th century to the middle(ish) 19th century. So, if an econ writer wore a wig or habitually wore pants that would these days be considered somewhat comical, they would fall into the "classical economics" category. (Though...that test might once again apply to economics undergraduates starting at around 2012.)

We're talking people like Smith and Malthus, but also David Ricardo and John Stuart Mill and a bunch of undercard-type players that you won't talk about until you get to a 300-level econ course.

Classical economists popularized the idea of supply and demand always moving toward equilibrium, and discussed ideas like free markets and laissez faire government policies.