Charles Hall (1740–1825) was a British physician, social critic and Ricardian socialist who published The Effects of Civilization on the People in European States in 1805, condemning capitalism for its inability to provide for the poor.
[1] After completing his medical studies, Hall practised in the West Country of England, where he acquired "intimate knowledge of the living conditions of the poor".
[2] Hall read the theories of a number of influential classical economists, including Malthus, David Ricardo and Adam Smith.
Hall argued that the main cause of food shortage was that too few people worked in agriculture, and too many were employed in trade and manufacturing.
[5] From his definition of wealth, Hall argued that the problem of poverty in civilised societies derived from the ability of the wealthy, through their control of the labour of others, to determine what is produced.
In addition to developing a theoretical model in The Effects of Civilization, Hall attempted to use scientific methods and government statistics to provide evidence for his opinion.