---
entity_slug: natural_order_of_economic_development
evaluator: null
evaluated_at: '2026-02-23T06:00:04.316128'
overall_score: 4.6
scores:
- name: definition_precision
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "The definition clearly articulates a specific sequential progression\
    \ (agriculture \u2192 manufacturing \u2192 foreign commerce) with well-defined\
    \ drivers (security considerations and profit preferences). It avoids circularity\
    \ and captures a distinct developmental concept rather than a vague umbrella term."
- name: source_grounding
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity is directly grounded in Book III, Chapter 1 of The Wealth
    of Nations, where Smith explicitly discusses the natural order of capital allocation
    and the security-based preferences of investors. The concept faithfully represents
    Smith's actual argument about developmental sequencing.
- name: domain_placement
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: '"General Theory" is the appropriate domain placement as this concept
    represents a fundamental theoretical principle about economic development that
    spans multiple specific economic activities. It''s a foundational structural claim
    rather than a narrow operational mechanism.'
- name: vsm_relevance
  value: 4.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as
    it describes how economic systems naturally adapt their capital allocation patterns
    over time in response to security and profit considerations. It also has some
    S5 relevance as it concerns the fundamental identity and developmental trajectory
    of economic systems.
- name: explanatory_value
  value: 5.0
  max_value: 5.0
  rationale: "This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the\
    \ underlying mechanism driving economic development patterns\u2014the security\
    \ preferences of capital owners\u2014rather than merely describing surface phenomena.\
    \ It explains why certain developmental sequences occur across different societies\
    \ and time periods."
---

# Evaluation: Natural Order Of Economic Development

## definition_precision — 4.0 / 5.0

The definition clearly articulates a specific sequential progression (agriculture → manufacturing → foreign commerce) with well-defined drivers (security considerations and profit preferences). It avoids circularity and captures a distinct developmental concept rather than a vague umbrella term.

## source_grounding — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity is directly grounded in Book III, Chapter 1 of The Wealth of Nations, where Smith explicitly discusses the natural order of capital allocation and the security-based preferences of investors. The concept faithfully represents Smith's actual argument about developmental sequencing.

## domain_placement — 5.0 / 5.0

"General Theory" is the appropriate domain placement as this concept represents a fundamental theoretical principle about economic development that spans multiple specific economic activities. It's a foundational structural claim rather than a narrow operational mechanism.

## vsm_relevance — 4.0 / 5.0

This entity maps well to S4 (intelligence/environmental adaptation) as it describes how economic systems naturally adapt their capital allocation patterns over time in response to security and profit considerations. It also has some S5 relevance as it concerns the fundamental identity and developmental trajectory of economic systems.

## explanatory_value — 5.0 / 5.0

This entity provides significant explanatory power by illuminating the underlying mechanism driving economic development patterns—the security preferences of capital owners—rather than merely describing surface phenomena. It explains why certain developmental sequences occur across different societies and time periods.
