The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century

work by Thompson

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 30, 2026

Quick Summary

E.P. Thompson's 1971 essay, "The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century," explores the transition from a paternalistic economic system to one driven by market forces. Thompson argued that in the 18th century, crowds acted based on a shared understanding of reciprocal obligations between producers and consumers, particularly concerning the price and availability of essential goods like bread. This "moral economy" dictated that prices should remain fair and that the community had a right to intervene when these norms were violated. This concept contrasts with the later, more individualistic logic of the free market.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

2 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

E.P. Thompson
…notable than his 1971 article “The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century,” which focused on the transition from a paternalist model of economic relationships, in which moral notions of reciprocity across class lines still held sway, to a modern model based on the untrammeled logic of…
Read More
…notable than his 1971 article “The Moral Economy of the English Crowd in the Eighteenth Century,” which focused on the transition from a paternalist model of economic relationships, in which moral notions of reciprocity across class lines still held sway, to a modern model based on the untrammeled logic of…
Read More