John Locke's Policy Recommendations While Serving on England's Board of Trade

FAIN: FB-54320-09

Brad Jeffrey Reno
College of the Holy Cross (Worcester, MA 01610-2395)

Toward the end of his life, John Locke served on England's Board of Trade. During his service on the Board, Locke drafted several memoranda, recommending policy to strengthen the English economy and address the problem of the poor. Those who have reviewed Locke's work at the Board of Trade typically focus on the connection between his policy recommendations and the economic pamphlets he published just prior to joining the Board. The present study seeks to establish a larger connection between his policy recommendations and his earlier work in political philosophy. The study will demonstrate that Locke's policy architecture was informed by his philosophic writings, particularly his work on self-interest and private property. Furthermore, because Locke was confronting questions similar to those faced in designing the modern welfare state, it will demonstrate the importance of the humanities for policy scholarship today.