Includes bibliographical references (p. [490]-532) and index.

Prologue: the British economy in 1700 -- Enlightenment and economy -- Useful knowledge and technology -- An enlightened political economy -- Enlightenment and the industrial revolution -- The origins of British technological leadership -- Technological change in the industrial revolution -- Britain and the world: an open economy -- Agriculture in the age of enlightenment -- The service sectors: commerce and transport -- The service sectors: finance and personal services -- progress and productivity -- Demographic transformation in the age of enlightenment -- Gender and family in an enlightened economy -- Factories and firms in an age of technological progress -- Social norms and a civil economy -- Formal institutions: the state and the economy -- Living standards and inequality -- The results: the British economy in 1850.