Final Answer:
The "trifling" product Adam Smith uses as an example to illustrate the concept of division of labor is the pin-maker.
Step-by-step explanation:
In "The Wealth of Nations," Adam Smith elucidates the effects of division of labor through a seemingly insignificant industry: the pin-making trade. He highlights how this small-scale manufacture operates with significant reliance on the division of tasks among workers. By breaking down the pin-making process into distinct, specialized tasks such as drawing out wire, cutting it to a certain length, sharpening the point, attaching the head, and packaging, Smith showcases how specialization and division of labor markedly enhance productivity.
The division of labor within the pin-making trade serves as an exemplar of how fragmenting complex tasks into smaller, specialized components significantly boosts efficiency. Smith emphasizes that by allocating specific tasks to different workers, each skilled in their niche, productivity skyrockets compared to one individual attempting every step in the pin-making process.
Furthermore, Smith's choice of the pin-making industry underscores how even in seemingly trivial or inconsequential productions, the principle of division of labor profoundly impacts efficiency and output. This example effectively illustrates how specialization within a trade or industry, regardless of its scale or perceived significance, substantially contributes to the overall productivity and economic growth of a society. Thus, Smith's selection of the pin-maker's trade stands as a potent analogy for the broader application and benefits of the division of labor across various sectors within society.