A Hermeneutical Study of Manusmriti and Adam Smith’s Canons of Taxation

This paper brings to light some discussion about the origin of the Canon of Taxation, proposed by Adam Smith. It has been widely stated in literature that Adam Smith borrowed all major ideas from various sources. For example, Ferguson exposed Adam Smith for falsely claiming the pin factory example. It aims to continue the process instigated by Ferguson by ascertaining the sources of economic growth, and principles of taxation, which are very similar to the ‘Manusmriti’. It is claimed that Adam Smith picked up those ideas from the 'Manusmriti' that have been given approximately twenty-two hundred years before Smith indicated in the Appendix. We hope that this process would continue until all sources of Adam Smith were identified and duly acknowledged.