The Tableau Économique

The Tableau Économique, developed by François Quesnay in the 18th century, is a visual model that illustrates how money flows through an economy. It maps the interactions between different economic agents—mainly landowners (renters), farmers (producers), and the state—showing how income is generated and distributed. The tableau emphasizes the importance of agriculture as the primary source of wealth and demonstrates how surplus profits are reinvested, influencing overall economic activity. Essentially, it offers an early understanding of economic circulation, highlighting the interconnectedness of productive sectors and income distribution within a simplified economy.