Robbed of a foundation of political philosophy on which it had based itself, economics is in great danger of becoming a plaything of lordship and its… - Eric Roll, Baron Roll of Ipsden

One thing which is striking in Malthus's theory is his insistence on contradictions and conflicts in the capitalist system. The system is shown not to be self-adjusting. Unless a large class of unproductive consumers was maintained, periodic over-production and stagnation would inevitably occur.admitting the possibility of unsuccessful systems and recognizing its causes. Showing a strong stance against capitalism and explaining its success depends on slowing down of making more productive populations, a counter-intuitive argument

Whatever his merits as an economist, Hume's place as one of the foremost exponents of capitalism is clearly established. His views on the landed interest and his recognition of self-interest and his desire for accumulation as the driving forces of economic activity in his time helped to consolidate the forces that were struggling to add political power to the economic supremacy which they had already achieved.

In its origins the utility school was strongly influenced by a desire to strengthen the potentially apologetic character of economics.