He sees the value of a general level of economic equality, even while he is sceptical of its attainment.

He insists upon the economic value of high wages, though he somewhat belittles the importance of wealth in the achievement of happiness.
Before Bentham, who on this point converted Adam Smith, he knew that the rate of interest depends upon the supply of and demand for loans.

He insists that commerce demands a free government for its progress, pointing out, doubtless from his abundant French experience, that an absolute government gives to the commercial class an insufficient status of honor.

He pointed out, doubtless with France again in his mind, the evils of an arbitrary system of taxation.

"They are commonly converted," he says with unwonted severity, "into punishments on industry; and also, by their unavoidable inequality, are more grievous, than by the real burden which they impose." And he emphasizes his belief that the best taxes are those which, like taxes upon luxury, press least upon the poor.
Such insight is extraordinary enough in the pre-Adamite epoch; but even more remarkable are his psychological foundations.