Josiah Child

Josiah Child (1630-1699) was an English merchant, economist and politician who became one of the most influential economic writers of the 17th century. His most notable work, "Brief Observations Concerning Trade and Interest of Money" (1668), helped shape British economic policy and mercantile thinking. As Governor of the East India Company, Child wielded significant influence over Britain's colonial trade policies and was instrumental in expanding the company's power in India. His writings advocated for strong protectionist measures, government regulation of interest rates, and the advancement of English naval power to protect trade interests. Child's economic theories, while controversial in his time, supported the creation of a powerful merchant state backed by naval strength and colonial expansion. His work "A New Discourse of Trade" (1693) outlined his mature economic ideas and remained influential in British economic thought well into the 18th century. The combination of Child's practical experience as a merchant and his theoretical writings made him a uniquely influential figure in the development of British economic policy. His success in business and his role in the East India Company gave his economic arguments particular weight among policymakers of his era.

There appear to be very few public reader reviews of Josiah Child's works online. As a 17th century economic writer and merchant, his texts are primarily studied by economic historians and scholars rather than general readers. His "A New Discourse of Trade" (1693) has only 3 ratings on Goodreads with no written reviews. No customer reviews exist on Amazon for any of his published works. Academic citations and scholarly reviews focus on his influence on British economic policy and mercantile theory but don't provide general reader feedback about the reading experience or accessibility of his works. The lack of modern reader reviews makes it difficult to gauge current public reception or identify specific likes/dislikes from readers. His works appear to be referenced more in academic research than read by contemporary audiences. Goodreads Rating: 3.67/5 (based on 3 ratings) Amazon: No customer reviews available

A New Discourse of Trade (1668) Economic treatise examining trade policies, monopolies and interest rates, with particular focus on the East India Company and England's commercial relationship with the Dutch.

Brief Observations Concerning Trade and Interest of Money (1668) Analysis of monetary policy and its effects on commerce, arguing for lower interest rates to stimulate English trade.

A Treatise Wherein it is Demonstrated that the East India Trade is the Most National of All Foreign Trades (1681) Detailed defense of the East India Company's monopoly and examination of its economic benefits to England.

A Discourse About Trade (1690) Expanded version of his earlier works, covering maritime law, colonial trade, and proposals for economic reform in England.