The Enlightenment Practice Test

A group of educated women hosts regular gatherings where nobles, writers, and officials debate philosophy, science, and politics. These meetings help circulate new books, connect patrons with authors, and shape polite public opinion, even while formal political power remains limited. In Enlightenment Europe, such spaces most directly contributed to which development?

In Britain, a writer in the 1770s argues that individuals pursuing their own economic interest in competitive markets can unintentionally promote overall prosperity. He criticizes monopolies and excessive regulation, suggesting that prices and production are best coordinated through voluntary exchange. Which Enlightenment-era economic idea is most directly reflected here?