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ADAM SMITH’S THEORY OF THE STATE In the Wealth of Nations Adam Smith pays considerable attention to the State and its role in society. One must simply look at the duties that Smith holds the state responsible for to see that he advocates a small role for government (relative to modern standards). According to Smith the “Sovereign” should be held responsible for Defense of the society above all, protecting members of society from the injustice or oppression of other members (Justice) and the “erection and maintenance of those public works and institutions which are useful but not capable of bringing in a profit to individuals” (Heilbroner, p298) or in other words Public Works and Institutions. After discussing this role for the state Smith addresses the issue of paying for these services through taxing the general, state or city populations or though other various methods such as tolls and voluntary contribution. Many claim to have found passages in Smith’s Theory of the State that contradict some of his earlier work that leans towards lower levels of government involvement while others point out that Smith realized Government had to provide some public works and institutions in order to make economic growth po