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# Commercial Family Duration Pattern

## Definition

The observation that very old families possessing considerable estates for many
generations are rare in commercial countries but common in countries with little
commerce, explained by the tendency of commercial wealth to dissipate through
extravagant personal spending while simple agricultural societies maintain
wealth within families.

## Source Chapter

Book III, Chapter 4

## Context

Smith's final observation on the social effects of commerce, noting that
commercial countries see wealth dissipate through vanity and lack of bounds on
personal expense, while simple nations maintain family wealth through the
consumable nature of their property.

## Economic Domain

General Theory

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