In "Gyakusetsu no Nihon-shi" (paradoxical Japanese history) written by Motohiko IZAWA, there is a description that 'Yoshimune was a wise ruler in many respects, but was completely foolish when it came to the economy.'
井沢元彦は『逆説の日本史』の中で「吉宗は名君である点も多分にあるが、経済に関しては全くの暗君だった」と述べている。