SupposenextthatA’stenthousandpounds,insteadofbeing
  lenttoB,arelentonmortgagetoC,alandedproprietor,by
  whomtheyareemployedinimprovingtheproductivepowersofhis
  estate,byfencing,draining,road—making,orpermanentmanures。
  Thisisproductiveemployment。Thetenthousandpoundsaresunk,
  butnotdissipated。Theyyieldapermanentreturn;thelandnow
  affordsanincreaseofproduce,sufficient,inafewyears,if
  theoutlayhasbeenjudicious,toreplacetheamount,andintime
  tomultiplyitmanifold。Here,then,isavalueoftenthousand
  pounds,employedinincreasingtheproduceofthecountry。This
  constitutesacapital,forwhichC,ifheletshisland,receives
  thereturnsinthenominalformofincreasedrent;andthe
  mortgageentitlesAtoreceivefromthesereturns,intheshape
  ofinterest,suchannualsumashasbeenagreedon。Wewillnow
  varythecircumstances,andsupposethatCdoesnotemploythe
  loaninimprovinghisland,butinpayingoffaformermortgage
  orinmakingaprovisionforchildren。Whetherthetenthousand
  poundsthusemployedarecapitalornot,willdependonwhatis
  donewiththeamountbytheultimatereceiver。Ifthechildren
  investtheirfortunesinaproductiveemployment,orthe
  mortgageeonbeingpaidofflendstheamounttoanother
  landholdertoimprovehisland,ortoamanufacturertoextend
  hisbusiness,itisstillcapital,becauseproductivelyemployed。
  Suppose,however,thatC,theborrowinglandlord,isa
  spendthrift,whoburdenshislandnottoincreasehisfortunebut
  tosquanderit,expendingtheamountinequipagesand
  entertainments。Inayearortwoitisdissipated,andwithout
  return。Aisasrichasbefore;hehasnolongerhistenthousand
  pounds,buthehasalienontheland,whichhecouldstillsell
  forthatamount。C,however,is10,000l。poorerthanformerly;
  andnobodyisricher。Itmaybesaidthatthosearericherwho
  havemadeprofitoutofthemoneywhileitwasbeingspent。No
  doubtifClostitbygaming,orwascheatedofitbyhis
  servants,thatisameretransfer,notadestruction,andthose
  whohavegainedtheamountmayemployitproductively。ButifC
  hasreceivedthefairvalueforhisexpenditureinarticlesof
  subsistenceorluxury,whichhehasconsumedonhimself,orby
  meansofhisservantsorguests,thesearticleshaveceasedto
  exist,andnothinghasbeenproducedtoreplacethem:whileif
  thesamesumhadbeenemployedinfarmingormanufacturing,the
  consumptionwhichwouldhavetakenplacewouldhavebeenmore
  thanbalancedattheendoftheyearbynewproducts,createdby
  thelabourofthosewhowouldinthatcasehavebeenthe
  consumers。ByC’sprodigality,thatwhichwouldhavebeen
  consumedwithareturn,isconsumedwithoutreturn。C’stradesmen
  mayhavemadeaprofitduringtheprocess;butifthecapitalhad
  beenexpendedproductively,anequivalentprofitwouldhavebeen
  madebybuilders,fencers,tool—makers,andthetradespeoplewho
  supplytheconsumptionofthelabouringclasses;whileatthe
  expirationofthetime(tosaynothingofanyincrease),Cwould
  havehadthetenthousandpoundsoritsvaluereplacedtohim,
  whichnowhehasnot。Thereis,therefore,onthegeneralresult,
  adifferencetothedisadvantageofthecommunity,ofatleast
  tenthousandpounds,beingtheamountofC’sunproductive
  expenditure。ToA,thedifferenceisnotmaterial,sincehis
  incomeissecuredtohim,andwhilethesecurityisgood,andthe
  marketrateofinterestthesame,hecanalwayssellthemortgage
  atitsoriginalvalue。ToA,therefore,thelienoftenthousand
  poundsonC’sestate,isvirtuallyacapitalofthatamount;but
  isitsoinreferencetothecommunity?Itisnot。Ahada
  capitaloftenthousandpounds,butthishasbeenextinguished——
  dissipatedanddestroyedbyC’sprodigality。Anowreceiveshis
  income,notfromtheproduceofhiscapital,butfromsomeother
  sourceofincomebelongingtoC,probablyfromtherentofhis
  land,thatis,frompaymentsmadetohimbyfarmersoutofthe
  produceoftheircapital。Thenationalcapitalisdiminishedby
  tenthousandpounds,andthenationalincomebyallwhichthose
  tenthousandpounds,employedascapital,wouldhaveproduced。
  Thelossdoesnotfallontheownerofthedestroyedcapital,
  sincethedestroyerhasagreedtoindemnifyhimforit。Buthis
  lossisonlyasmallportionofthatsustainedbythecommunity,
  sincewhatwasdevotedtotheuseandconsumptionofthe
  proprietorwasonlytheinterest;thecapitalitselfwas,or
  wouldhavebeen,employedintheperpetualmaintenanceofan
  equivalentnumberoflabourers,regularlyreproducingwhatthey
  consumed:andofthismaintenancetheyaredeprivedwithout
  compensation。
  Letusnowvarythehypothesisstillfurther,andsuppose
  thatthemoneyisborrowed,notbyalandlord,butbytheState。
  AlendshiscapitaltoGovernmenttocarryonawar:hebuysfrom
  theStatewhatarecalledgovernmentsecurities;thatis,
  obligationsonthegovernmenttopayacertainannualincome。If
  thegovernmentemployedthemoneyinmakingarailroad,this
  mightbeaproductiveemployment,andA’spropertywouldstillbe
  usedascapital;butsinceitisemployedinwar,thatis,inthe
  payofofficersandsoldierswhoproducenothing,andin
  destroyingaquantityofgunpowderandbulletswithoutreturn,
  thegovernmentisinthesituationofC,thespendthrift
  landlord,andA’stenthousandpoundsaresomuchnational
  capitalwhichonceexisted,butexistsnolonger:virtually
  thrownintothesea,asfaraswealthorproductionisconcerned;
  thoughforotherreasonstheemploymentofitmayhavebeen
  justifiable。A’ssubsequentincomeisderived,notfromthe
  produceofhisowncapital,butfromtaxesdrawnfromtheproduce
  oftheremainingcapitalofthecommunity;towhomhiscapitalis
  notyieldinganyreturn,toindemnitythemforthepayment;itis
  lostandgone,andwhathenowpossessesisaclaimonthe
  returnstootherpeople’scapitalandindustry。Thisclaimhecan
  sell,andgetbacktheequivalentofhiscapital,whichhemay
  afterwardsemployproductively。True;buthedoesnotgetback
  hisowncapital,oranythingwhichithasproduced;that,andall
  itspossiblereturns,areextinguished:whathegetsisthe
  capitalofsomeotherperson,whichthatpersoniswillingto
  exchangeforhislienonthetaxes。Anothercapitalist
  substituteshimselfforAasamortgageeofthepublic,andA
  substituteshimselffortheothercapitalistasthepossessorof
  afundemployedinproduction,oravailableforit。Bythis
  exchangetheproductivepowersofthecommunityareneither
  increasednordiminished。Thebreachinthecapitalofthe
  countrywasmadewhenthegovernmentspentA’smoney:wherebya
  valueoftenthousandpoundswaswithdrawnorwithheldfrom
  productiveemployment,placedinthefundforunproductive
  consumption,anddestroyedwithoutequivalent。
  ThePrinciplesofPoliticalEconomybyJohnStuartMillBook1,Chapter5
  FundamentalPropositionsRespectingCapital1。Iftheprecedingexplanationshaveansweredtheirpurpose,theyhavegivennotonlyasufficientlycompletepossessionoftheideaofCapitalaccordingtoitsdefinition,butasufficientfamiliaritywithitintheconcrete,andamidsttheobscuritywithwhichthecomplicationofindividualcircumstancessurroundsit,tohavepreparedeventheunpractisedreaderforcertainelementarypropositionsortheoremsrespectingcapital,thefullcomprehensionofwhichisalreadyaconsiderablestepoutofdarknessintolight。
  Thefirstofthesepropositionsis,Thatindustryislimitedbycapital。Thisissoobviousastobetakenforgrantedinmanycommonformsofspeech;buttoseeatruthoccasionallyisonething,torecogniseithabitually,andadmitnopropositionsinconsistentwithit,isanother。Theaxiomwasuntillatelyalmostuniversallydisregardedbylegislatorsandpoliticalwriters;anddoctrinesirreconcileablewithitarestillverycommonlyprofessedandinculcated。
  Thefollowingarecommonexpressions,implyingitstruth。Theactofdirectingindustrytoaparticularemploymentisdescribedbythephrase"applyingcapital"totheemployment。Toemployindustryonthelandistoapplycapitaltotheland。Toemploylabourinamanufactureistoinvestcapitalinthemanufacture。
  Thisimpliesthatindustrycannotbeemployedtoanygreaterextentthanthereiscapitaltoinvest。Theproposition,indeed,mustbeassentedtoassoonasitisdistinctlyapprehended。Theexpression"applyingcapital"isofcoursemetaphorical:whatisreallyappliedislabour;capitalbeinganindispensablecondition。Again,weoftenspeakofthe"productivepowersofcapital。"Thisexpressionisnotliterallycorrect。Theonlyproductivepowersarethoseoflabourandnaturalagents;orifanyportionofcapitalcanbyastretchoflanguagebesaidtohaveaproductivepowerofitsown,itisonlytoolsandmachinery,which,likewindorwater,maybesaidtoco—operatewithlabour。Thefoodoflabourersandthematerialsofproductionhavenoproductivepower;butlabourcannotexertitsproductivepowerunlessprovidedwiththem。Therecanbenomoreindustrythanissuppliedwithmaterialstoworkupandfoodtoeat。Self—evidentasthethingis,itisoftenforgottenthatthepeopleofacountryaremaintainedandhavetheirwantssupplied,notbytheproduceofpresentlabour,butofpast。Theyconsumewhathasbeenproduced,notwhatisabouttobeproduced。Now,ofwhathasbeenproduced,apartonlyisallottedtothesupportofproductivelabour;andtherewillnotandcannotbemoreofthatlabourthantheportionsoallotted(whichisthecapitalofthecountry)canfeed,andprovidewiththematerialsandinstrumentsofproduction。
  Yet,indisregardofafactsoevident,itlongcontinuedtobebelievedthatlawsandgovernments,withoutcreatingcapital,couldcreateindustry。Notbymakingthepeoplemorelaborious,orincreasingtheefficiencyoftheirlabour;theseareobjectstowhichthegovernmentcan,insomedegree,indirectlycontribute。Butwithoutanyincreaseintheskillorenergyofthelabourers。andwithoutcausinganypersonstolabourwhohadpreviouslybeenmaintainedinidleness,itwasstillthoughtthatthegovernment,withoutprovidingadditionalfunds,couldcreateadditionalemployment。Agovernmentwould,byprohibitorylaws,putastoptotheimportationofsomecommodity;andwhenbythisithadcausedthecommoditytobeproducedathome,itwouldplumeitselfuponhavingenrichedthecountrywithanewbranchofindustry,wouldparadeinstatisticaltablestheamountofproduceyieldedandlabouremployedintheproduction,andtakecreditforthewholeofthisasagaintothecountry,obtainedthroughtheprohibitorylaw。althoughthissortofpoliticalarithmetichasfallenalittleintodiscreditinEngland,itstillflourishesinthenationsofContinentalEurope。Hadlegislatorsbeenawarethatindustryislimitedbycapital,theywouldhaveseenthat,theaggregatecapitalofthecountrynothavingbeenincreased,anyportionofitwhichtheybytheirlawshadcausedtobeembarkedinthenewly—acquiredbranchofindustrymusthavebeenwithdrawnorwithheldfromsomeother;inwhichitgave,orwouldhavegiven,employmenttoprobablyaboutthesamequantityoflabourwhichitemploysinitsnewoccupation。(1)*
  2。Becauseindustryislimitedbycapital,wearenothowevertoinferthatitalwaysreachesthatlimit。Capitalmaybetemporarilyunemployed,asinthecaseofunsoldgoods,orfundsthathavenotyetfoundaninvestment:duringthisintervalitdoesnotsetinmotionanyindustry。Ortheremaynotbeasmanylabourersobtainable,asthecapitalwouldmaintainandemploy。
  Thishasbeenknowntooccurinnewcolonies,wherecapitalhassometimesperisheduselesslyforwantoflabour:theSwanRiversettlement(nowcalledWesternAustralia),inthefirstyearsafteritsfoundation,wasaninstance。Therearemanypersonsmaintainedfromexistingcapital,whoproducenothing,orwhomightproducemuchmorethantheydo。Ifthelabourerswerereducedtolowerwages,orinducedtoworkmorehoursforthesamewages,oriftheirfamilies,whoarealreadymaintainedfromcapital,wereemployedtoagreaterextentthantheynowareinaddingtotheproduce,agivencapitalwouldaffordemploymenttomoreindustry。Theunproductiveconsumptionofproductivelabourers,thewholeofwhichisnowsuppliedbycapital,mightcease,orbepostponeduntiltheproducecamein;andadditionalproductivelabourersmightbemaintainedwiththeamount。Bysuchmeanssocietymightobtainfromitsexistingresourcesagreaterquantityofproduce:andtosuchmeansithasbeendriven,whenthesuddendestructionofsomelargeportionofitscapitalrenderedtheemploymentofthereminderwiththegreatestpossibleeffect,amatterofparamountconsiderationforthetime。
  Whenindustryhasnotcomeuptothelimitimposedbycapital,governmentsmay,invariousways,forexamplebyimportingadditionallabourers,bringitnearertothatlimit:asbytheimportationofCooliesandfreeNegroesintotheWestIndies。Thereisanotherwayinwhichgovernmentscancreateadditionalindustry。Theycancreatecapital。Theymaylayontaxes,andemploytheamountproductively。Theymaydowhatisnearlyequivalent;theymaylaytaxesonincomeorexpenditure,andapplytheproceedstowardspayingoffthepublicdebts。Thefundholder,whenpaidoff,wouldstilldesiretodrawanincomefromhisproperty,mostofwhichthereforewouldfinditswayintoproductiveemployment,whileagreatpartofitwouldhavebeendrawnfromthefundforunproductiveexpenditure,sincepeopledonotwhollypaytheirtaxesfromwhattheywouldhavesaved,butpartly,ifnotchiefly,fromwhattheywouldhavespent。Itmaybeadded,thatanyincreaseintheproductivepowerofcapital(or,moreproperlyspeaking,oflabour)byimprovementintheartsoflife,orotherwise,tendstoincreasetheemploymentforlabour。since,whenthereisagreaterproducealtogether,itisalwaysprobablethatsomeportionoftheincreasewillbesavedandconvertedintocapital;especiallywhentheincreasedreturnstoproductiveindustryholdoutanadditionaltemptationtotheconversionoffundsfromanunproductivedestinationtoaproductive。
  3。While,ontheonehand,industryislimitedbycapital,soontheother,everyincreaseofcapitalgives,oriscapableofgiving,additionalemploymenttoindustry。,andthiswithoutassignablelimit。Idonotmeantodenythatthecapital,orpartofit,maybesoemployedasnottosupportlabourers,beingfixedinmachinery,buildings,improvementofland,andthelike。
  Inanylargeincreaseofcapitalaconsiderableportionwillgenerallybethusemployed,andwillonlyco—operatewithlabourers,notmaintainthem。WhatIdointendtoassertis,thattheportionwhichisdestinedtotheirmaintenance,may(supposingnoalterationinanythingelse)beindefinitelyincreased,withoutcreatinganimpossibilityoffindingthememployment:inotherwords,thatiftherearehumanbeingscapableofwork,andfoodtofeedthem,theymayalwaysbeemployedinproducingsomething。Thispropositionrequirestobesomewhatdweltupon,beingoneofthosewhichitisexceedinglyeasytoassenttowhenpresentedingeneralterms,butsomewhatdifficulttokeepfastholdof,inthecrowdandconfusionoftheactualfactsofsociety。Itisalsoverymuchopposedtocommondoctrines。Thereisnotanopinionmoregeneralamongmankindthanthis,thattheunproductiveexpenditureoftherichisnecessarytotheemploymentofthepoor。BeforeAdamSmith,thedoctrinehadhardlybeenquestioned;andevensincehistime,authorsofthehighestnameandofgreatmerit*havecontended,thatifconsumersweretosaveandconvertintocapitalmorethanalimitedportionoftheirincome,andwerenottodevotetounproductiveconsumptionanamountofmeansbearingacertainratiotothecapitalofthecountry,theextraaccumulationwouldbemerelysomuchwaste,sincetherewouldbenomarketforthecommoditieswhichthecapitalsocreatedwouldproduce。I
  conceivethistobeoneofthemanyerrorsarisinginpoliticaleconomy,fromthepracticeofnotbeginningwiththeexaminationofsimplecases,butrushingatonceintothecomplexityofconcretephenomena。
  Everyonecanseethatifabenevolentgovernmentpossessedallthefood,andalltheimplementsandmaterials,ofthecommunity,itcouldexactproductivelabourfromallcapableofit,towhomitallowedashareinthefood,andcouldbeinnodangerofwantingafieldfortheemploymentofthisproductivelabour,sinceaslongastherewasasinglewantunsaturated(whichmaterialobjectscouldsupply),ofanyoneindividual,thelabourofthecommunitycouldbeturnedtotheproductionofsomethingcapableofsatisfyingthatwant。Now,theindividualpossessorsofcapital,whentheyaddtoitbyfreshaccumulations,aredoingpreciselythesamethingwhichwesupposetobedonebyabenevolentgovernment。Asitisallowabletoputanycasebywayofhypothesis,letusimaginethemostextremecaseconceivable。Supposethateverycapitalistcametobeofopinionthatnotbeingmoremeritoriousthanawell—conductedlabourer,heoughtnottofarebetter;andaccordinglylaidby,fromconscientiousmotives,thesurplusofhisprofits;orsupposethisabstinencenotspontaneous,butimposedbylaworopinionuponallcapitalists,anduponlandownerslikewise。Unproductiveexpenditureisnowreducedtoitslowestlimit:anditisasked,howistheincreasedcapitaltofindemployment?Whoistobuythegoodswhichitwillproduce?Therearenolongercustomersevenforthosewhichwereproducedbefore。Thegoods,therefore,(itissaid)willremainunsold;theywillperishinthewarehouses;untilcapitalisbroughtdowntowhatitwasoriginally,orrathertoasmuchless,asthedemandoftheconsumershaslessened。Butthisisseeingonlyone—halfofthematter。Inthecasesupposed,therewouldnolongerbeanydemandforluxuries,onthepartofcapitalistsandlandowners。Butwhentheseclassesturntheirincomeintocapital,theydonottherebyannihilatetheirpowerofconsumption;theydobuttransferitfromthemselvestothelabourerstowhomtheygiveemployment。Now,therearetwopossiblesuppositionsinregardtothelabourers;eitherthereis,orthereisnot,anincreaseoftheirnumbers,proportionaltotheincreaseofcapital。Ifthereis,thecaseoffersnodifficulty。Theproductionofnecessariesforthenewpopulation,takestheplaceoftheproductionofluxuriesforaportionoftheold,andsuppliesexactlytheamountofemploymentwhichhasbeenlost。Butsupposethatthereisnoincreaseofpopulation。
  Thewholeofwhatwaspreviouslyexpendedinluxuries,bycapitalistsandlandlords,isdistributedamongtheexistinglabourers,intheformofadditionalwages。Wewillassumethemtobealreadysufficientlysuppliedwithnecessaries。Whatfollows?Thatthelabourersbecomeconsumersofluxuries;andthecapitalpreviouslyemployedintheproductionofluxuries,isstillabletoemployitselfinthesamemanner:thedifferencebeing,thattheluxuriesaresharedamongthecommunitygenerally,insteadofbeingconfinedtoafew。Theincreasedaccumulationandincreasedproduction,might,rigorouslyspeaking,continue,untileverylabourerhadeveryindulgenceofwealth,consistentwithcontinuingtowork;supposingthatthepoweroftheirlabourwerephysicallysufficienttoproduceallthisamountofindulgencesfortheirwholenumber。Thusthelimitofwealthisneverdeficiencyofconsumers,butofproducersandproductivepower。Everyadditiontocapitalgivestolaboureitheradditionalemployment,oradditionalremuneration;
  enricheseitherthecountry,orthelabouringclass。Ifitfindsadditionalhandstosettowork,itincreasestheaggregateproduce:ifonlythesamehands,itgivesthemalargershareofit;andperhapseveninthiscase,bystimulatingthemtogreaterexertion,augmentstheproduceitself。
  4。AsecondfundamentaltheoremrespectingCapital,relatestothesourcefromwhichitisderived。Itistheresultofsaving。Theevidenceofthisliesabundantlyinwhathasbeenalreadysaidonthesubject。Butthepropositionneedssomefurtherillustration。
  Ifallpersonsweretoexpendinpersonalindulgencesallthattheyproduce,andalltheincometheyreceivefromwhatisproducedbyothers,capitalcouldnotincrease。Allcapital,withatriflingexception,wasoriginallytheresultofsaving。Isay,withatriflingexception;becauseapersonwholaboursonhisownaccount,mayspendonhisownaccountallheproduces,withoutbecomingdestitute;andtheprovisionofnecessariesonwhichhesubsistsuntilhehasreapedhisharvest,orsoldhiscommodity,thougharealcapital,cannotbesaidtohavebeensaved,sinceitisallusedforthesupplyofhisownwants,andperhapsasspeedilyasifithadbeenconsumedinidleness。Wemayimagineanumberofindividualsorfamiliessettledonasmanyseparatepiecesofland,eachlivingonwhattheirownlabourproduces,andconsumingthewholeproduce。Buteventhesemustsave(thatis,sparefromtheirpersonalconsumption)asmuchasisnecessaryforseed。Somesaving,therefore,theremusthavebeen,eveninthissimplestofallstatesofeconomicalrelations;peoplemusthaveproducedmorethantheyused,orusedlessthantheyproduced。Stillmoremusttheydosobeforetheycanemployotherlabourers,orincreasetheirproductionbeyondwhatcanbeaccomplishedbytheworkoftheirownhands。Allthatanyoneemploysinsupportingandcarryingonanyotherlabourthanhisown,musthavebeenoriginallybroughttogetherbysaving;somebodymusthaveproduceditandforbornetoconsumeit。Wemaysay,therefore,withoutmaterialinaccuracy,thatallcapital,andespeciallyalladditiontocapital,aretheresultofsaving。
  Inarudeandviolentstateofsociety,itcontinuallyhappensthatthepersonwhohascapitalisnottheverypersonwhohassavedit,butsomeonewho,beingstronger,orbelongingtoamorepowerfulcommunity,haspossessedhimselfofitbyplunder。Andeveninastateofthingsinwhichpropertywasprotected,theincreaseofcapitalhasusuallybeen,foralongtime,mainlyderivedfromprivationswhich,thoughessentiallythesamewithsaving,arenotgenerallycalledbythatname,becausenotvoluntary。Theactualproducershavebeenslaves,compelledtoproduceasmuchasforcecouldextortfromthem,andtoconsumeaslittleastheself—interestortheusuallyveryslenderhumanityoftheirtaskmasterswouldpermit。Thiskindofcompulsorysaving,however,wouldnothavecausedanyincreaseofcapital,unlessapartoftheamounthadbeensavedoveragain,voluntarily,bythemaster。Ifallthathemadehisslavesproduceandforbeartoconsume,hadbeenconsumedbyhimonpersonalindulgences,hewouldnothaveincreasedhiscapital,norbeenenabledtomaintainanincreasingnumberofslaves。Tomaintainanyslavesatall,impliedaprevioussaving;astock,atleastoffood,providedinadvance。Thissavingmaynot,however,havebeenmadebyanyself—imposedprivationofthemaster;butmoreprobablybythatoftheslavesthemselveswhilefree;therapineorwar,whichdeprivedthemoftheirpersonalliberty,havingtransferredalsotheiraccumulationstotheconqueror。
  Thereareothercasesinwhichthetermsaving,withtheassociationsusuallybelongingtoit,doesnotexactlyfittheoperationbywhichcapitalisincreased。Ifitweresaid,forinstance,thattheonlywaytoacceleratetheincreaseofcapitalisbyincreaseofsaving,theideawouldprobablybesuggestedofgreaterabstinence,andincreasedprivation。Butitisobviousthatwhateverincreasestheproductivepoweroflabour,createsanadditionalfundtomakesavingsfrom,andenablescapitaltobeenlargednotonlywithoutadditionalprivation,butconcurrentlywithanincreaseofpersonalconsumption。
  Nevertheless,thereishereanincreaseofsaving,inthescientificsense。Thoughthereismoreconsumed,thereisalsomorespared。Thereisagreaterexcessofproductionoverconsumption。Itisconsistentwithcorrectnesstocallthisagreatersaving。Thoughthetermisnotunobjectionable,thereisnootherwhichisnotliabletoasgreatobjections。Toconsumelessthanisproduced,issaving;andthatistheprocessbywhichcapitalisincreased;notnecessarilybyconsumingless,absolutely。Wemustnotallowourselvestobesomuchtheslavesofwords,astobeunabletousethewordsavinginthissense,withoutbeingindangerofforgettingthattoincreasecapitalthereisanotherwaybesidesconsumingless,namely,toproducemore。
  5。AthirdfundamentaltheoremrespectingCapital,closelyconnectedwiththeonelastdiscussed,is,thatalthoughsaved,andtheresultofsaving,itisneverthelessconsumed。Thewordsavingdoesnotimplythatwhatissavedisnotconsumed,norevennecessarilythatitsconsumptionisdeferred;butonlythat,ifconsumedimmediately,itisnotconsumedbythepersonwhosavesit。Ifmerelylaidbyforfutureuse,itissaidtobehoarded;andwhilehoarded,isnotconsumedatall。Butifemployedascapital,itisallconsumed;thoughnotbythecapitalist。Partisexchangedfortoolsormachinery,whicharewornoutbyuse;partforseedormaterials,whicharedestroyedassuchbybeingsownorwroughtup,anddestroyedaltogetherbytheconsumptionoftheultimateproduct。Theremainderispaidinwagestoproductivelabourers,whoconsumeitfortheirdailywants;oriftheyintheirturnsaveanypart,thisalsoisnot,generallyspeaking,hoarded,but(throughsavingsbanks,benefitclubs,orsomeotherchannel)re—employedascapital,andconsumed。
  Theprinciplenowstatedisastrongexampleofthenecessityofattentiontothemostelementarytruthsofoursubject:foritisoneofthemostelementaryofthemall,andyetnoonewhohasnotbestowedsomethoughtonthematterishabituallyawareofit,andmostarenotevenwillingtoadmititwhenfirststated。
  Tothevulgar,itisnotatallapparentthatwhatissavedisconsumed。Tothem,everyonewhosaves,appearsinthelightofapersonwhohoards:theymaythinksuchconductpermissible,orevenlaudable,whenitistoprovideforafamily,andthelike;
  buttheyhavenoconceptionofitasdoinggoodtootherpeople:
  savingistothemanotherwordforkeepingathingtooneself;
  whilespendingappearstothemtobedistributingitamongothers。Thepersonwhoexpendshisfortuneinunproductiveconsumption,islookeduponasdiffusingbenefitsallaround;andisanobjectofsomuchfavour,thatsomeportionofthesamepopularityattacheseventohimwhospendswhatdoesnotbelongtohim;whonotonlydestroyshisowncapital,ifheeverhadany,butunderpretenceofborrowing,andonpromiseofrepayment,possesseshimselfofcapitalbelongingtoothers,anddestroysthatlikewise。
  Thispopularerrorcomesfromattendingtoasmallportiononlyoftheconsequencesthatflowfromthesavingorthespending;alltheeffectsofeitherwhichareoutofsight,beingoutofmind。Theeyefollowswhatissaved,intoanimaginarystrong—box,andtherelosessightofit;whatisspent,itfollowsintothehandsoftradespeopleanddependents;butwithoutreachingtheultimatedestinationineithercase。Saving(forproductiveinvestment),andspending,coincideverycloselyinthefirststageoftheiroperations。Theeffectsofbothbeginwithconsumption;withthedestructionofacertainportionofwealth;onlythethingsconsumed,andthepersonsconsuming,aredifferent。Thereis,intheonecase,awearingoutoftools,adestructionofmaterial,andaquantityoffoodandclothingsuppliedtolabourers,whichtheydestroybyuse:intheothercase,thereisaconsumption,thatistosay,adestruction,ofwines,equipages,andfurniture。Thusfar,theconsequencetothenationalwealthhasbeenmuchthesame;anequivalentquantityofithasbeendestroyedinbothcases。Butinthespending,thisfirststageisalsothefinalstage;thatparticularamountoftheproduceoflabourhasdisappeared,andthereisnothingleft;
  while,onthecontrary,thesavingperson,duringthewholetimethatthedestructionwasgoingon,hashadlabourersatworkrepairingit;whoareultimatelyfoundtohavereplaced,withanincrease,theequivalentofwhathasbeenconsumed。Andasthisoperationadmitsofbeingrepeatedindefinitelywithoutanyfreshactofsaving,asavingoncemadebecomesafundtomaintainacorrespondingnumberoflabourersinperpetuity,reproducingannuallytheirownmaintenancewithaprofit。
  Itistheinterventionofmoneywhichobscures,toanunpractisedapprehension,thetruecharacterofthesephenomena。
  AlmostallexpenditurebeingcaRedonbymeansofmoney,themoneycomestobelookeduponasthemainfeatureinthetransaction;andsincethatdoesnotperish,butonlychangeshands,peopleoverlookthedestructionwhichtakesplaceinthecaseofunproductiveexpenditure。Themoneybeingmerelytransferred,theythinkthewealthalsohasonlybeenhandedoverfromthespendthrifttootherpeople。Butthisissimplyconfoundingmoneywithwealth。Thewealthwhichhasbeendestroyedwasnotthemoney,butthewines,equipages,andfurniturewhichthemoneypurchased;andthesehavingbeendestroyedwithoutreturn,societycollectivelyispoorerbytheamount。Itmaybesaid,perhaps,thatwines,equipages,andfurniture,arenotsubsistence,tools,andmaterials,andcouldnotinanycasehavebeenappliedtothesupportoflabour;thattheyareadaptedfornootherthanunproductiveconsumption,andthatthedetrimenttothewealthofthecommunitywaswhentheywereproduced,notwhentheywereconsumed。Iamwillingtoallowthis,asfarasisnecessaryfortheargument,andtheremarkwouldbeverypertinentiftheseexpensiveluxuriesweredrawnfromanexistingstock,nevertobereplenished。Butsince,onthecontrary,theycontinuetobeproducedaslongasthereareconsumersforthem,andareproducedinincreasedquantitytomeetanincreaseddemand;thechoicemadebyaconsumertoexpendfivethousandayearinluxuries,keepsacorrespondingnumberoflabourersemployedfromyeartoyearinproducingthingswhichcanbeofnousetoproduction;theirservicesbeinglostsofarasregardstheincreaseofthenationalwealth,andthetools,materials,andfoodwhichtheyannuallyconsumebeingsomuchsubtractedfromthegeneralstockofthecommunityapplicabletoproductivepurposes。Inproportionasanyclassisimprovidentorluxurious,theindustryofthecountrytakesthedirectionofproducingluxuriesfortheiruse;whilenotonlytheemploymentforproductivelabourersisdiminished,butthesubsistenceandinstrumentswhicharethemeansofsuchemploymentdoactuallyexistinsmallerquantity。
  Saving,inshort,enriches,andspendingimpoverishes,thecommunityalongwiththeindividual;whichisbutsayinginotherwords,thatsocietyatlargeisricherbywhatitexpendsinmaintainingandaidingproductivelabour,butpoorerbywhatitconsumesinitsenjoyments。(2*)
  6。Toreturntoourfundamentaltheorem。Everythingwhichisproducedisconsumedbothwhatissavedandwhatissaidtobespent;andtheformerquiteasrapidlyasthelatter。Alltheordinaryformsoflanguagetendtodisguisethis。Whenpeopletalkoftheancientwealthofacount,ofrichesinheritedfromancestors,andsimilarexpressions,theideasuggestedis,thattherichessotransmittedwereproducedlongago,atthetimewhentheyaresaidtohavebeenfirstacquired,andthatnoportionofthecapitalofthecountrywasproducedthisyear,exceptasmuchasmayhavebeenthisyearaddedtothetotalamount。Thefactisfarotherwise。Thegreaterpart,invalue,ofthewealthnowexistinginEnglandhasbeenproducedbyhumanhandswithinthelasttwelvemonths。Averysmallproportionindeedofthatlargeaggregatewasinexistencetenyearsago;——
  ofthepresentproductivecapitalofthecountryscarcelyanypart,exceptfarm—housesandmanufactories,andafewshipsandmachines;andeventhesewouldnotinmostcaseshavesurvivedsolong,iffreshlabourhadnotbeenemployedwithinthatperiodinputtingthemintorepair。Thelandsubsists,andthelandisalmosttheonlythingthatsubsists。Everythingwhichisproducedperishes,andmostthingsveryquickly。Mostkindsofcapitalarenotfittedbytheirnaturetobelongpreserved。Thereareafew,andbutafewproductions,capableofaveryprolongedexistence。
  WestminsterAbbeyhaslastedmanycenturies,withoccasionalrepairs;someGreciansculptureshaveexistedabovetwothousandyears;thePyramidsperhapsdoubleortreblethattime。Butthesewereobjectsdevotedtounproductiveuse。Ifweexceptbridgesandaqueducts(towhichmayinsomecountriesbeaddedtanksandembankments),therearefewinstancesofanyedificeappliedtoindustrialpurposeswhichhasbeenofgreatduration;suchbuildingsdonotholdoutagainstwearandtear,norisitgoodeconomytoconstructthemofthesoliditynecessaryforpermanency。Capitaliskeptinexistencefromagetoagenotbypreservation,butbyperpetualreproduction:everypartofitisusedanddestroyed,generallyverysoonafteritisproduced,butthosewhoconsumeitareemployedmeanwhileinproducingmore。
  Thegrowthofcapitalissimilartothegrowthofpopulation。
  Everyindividualwhoisborn,dies,butineachyearthenumberbornexceedsthenumberwhodie:thepopulation,therefore,alwaysincreases,thoughnotonepersonofthosecomposingitwasaliveuntilaveryrecentdate。
  7。Thisperpetualconsumptionandreproductionofcapitalaffordstheexplanationofwhathassooftenexcitedwonder,thegreatrapiditywithwhichcountriesrecoverfromastateofdevastation;thedisappearance,inashorttime,ofalltracesofthemischiefsdonebyearthquakes,floods,hurricanes,andtheravagesofwar。Anenemylayswasteacountrybyfireandsword,anddestroysorcarriesawaynearlyallthemoveablewealthexistinginit:alltheinhabitantsareruined,andyetinafewyearsafter,everythingismuchasitwasbefore。Thisvismedicatrixnaturaehasbeenasubjectofsterileastonishment,orhasbeencitedtoexemplifythewonderfulstrengthoftheprincipleofsaving,whichcanrepairsuchenormouslossesinsobriefaninterval。Thereisnothingatallwonderfulinthematter。Whattheenemyhavedestroyed,wouldhavebeendestroyedinalittletimebytheinhabitantsthemselves:thewealthwhichtheysorapidlyreproduce,wouldhaveneededtobereproducedandwouldhavebeenreproducedinanycase,andprobablyinasshortatime。Nothingischanged,exceptthatduringthereproductiontheyhavenotnowtheadvantageofconsumingwhathadbeenproducedpreviously。Thepossibilityofarapidrepairoftheirdisasters,mainlydependsonwhetherthecountryhasbeendepopulated。Ifitseffectivepopulationhavenotbeenextirpatedatthetime,andarenotstarvedafterwards;then,withthesameskillandknowledgewhichtheyhadbefore,withtheirlandanditspermanentimprovementsundestroyed,andthemoredurablebuildingsprobablyunimpaired,oronlypartiallyinjured,theyhavenearlyalltherequisitesfortheirformeramountofproduction。Ifthereisasmuchoffoodlefttothem,orofvaluablestobuyfood,asenablesthembyanyamountofprivationtoremainaliveandinworkingcondition,theywillinashorttimehaveraisedasgreataproduce,andacquiredcollectivelyasgreatwealthandasgreatacapital,asbefore;bythemerecontinuanceofthatordinaryamountofexertionwhichtheyareaccustomedtoemployintheiroccupations。Nordoesthisevinceanystrengthintheprincipleofsaving,inthepopularsenseoftheterm,sincewhattakesplaceisnotintentionalabstinence,butinvoluntaryprivation。
  Yetsofatalisthehabitofthinkingthoughthemediumofonlyonesetoftechnicalphrases,andsolittlereasonhavestudiousmentovaluethemselvesonbeingexemptfromtheverysamementalinfirmitieswhichbesetthevulgar,thatthissimpleexplanationwasnevergiven(sofarasIamaware)byanypoliticaleconomistbeforeDr。Chalmers;awritermanyofwhoseopinionsIthinkerroneous,butwhohasalwaysthemeritofstudyingphenomenaatfirsthand,andexpressingtheminalanguageofhisown,whichoftenuncoversaspectsofthetruththatthereceivedphraseologiesonlytendtohide。
  8。Thesameauthorcarriesoutthistrainofthoughttosomeimportantconclusionsonanothercloselyconnectedsubject,thatofgovernmentloansforwarpurposesorotherunproductiveexpenditure。Theseloans,beingdrawnfromcapital(inlieuoftaxes,whichwouldgenerallyhavebeenpaidfromincome,andmadeupinpartoraltogetherbyincreasedeconomy)must,accordingtotheprincipleswehavelaiddown,tendtoimpoverishthecountry:
  yettheyearsinwhichexpenditureofthissorthasbeenonthegreatestscale,haveoftenbeenyearsofgreatapparentprosperity……thewealthandresourcesofthecountry,insteadofdiminishing,havegiveneverysignofrapidincreaseduringtheprocess,andofgreatlyexpandeddimensionsafteritsclose。ThiswasconfessedlythecasewithGreatBritainduringthelastlongContinentalwar;anditwouldtakesomespacetoenumeratealltheunfoundedtheoriesinpoliticaleconomy,towhichthatfactgaverise,andtowhichitsecuredtemporarycredence;almostalltendingtoexaltunproductiveexpenditure,attheexpenseofproductive。Withoutenteringintoallthecauseswhichoperated,andwhichcommonlydooperate,topreventtheseextraordinarydraftsontheproductiveresourcesofacountryfrombeingsomuchfeltasitmightseemreasonabletoexpect,wewillsupposethemostunfavourablecasepossible:thatthewholeamountborrowedanddestroyedbythegovernment,wasabstractedbythelenderfromaproductiveemploymentinwhichithadactuallybeeninvested。Thecapital,therefore,ofthecountry,isthisyeardiminishedbysomuch。Butunlesstheamountabstractedissomethingenormous,thereisnoreasoninthenatureofthecasewhynextyearthenationalcapitalshouldnotbeasgreatasever。Theloancannothavebeentakenfromthatportionofthecapitalofthecountrywhichconsistsoftools,machinery,andbuildings。Itmusthavebeenwhollydrawnfromtheportionemployedinpayinglabourers:andthelabourerswillsufferaccordingly。Butifnoneofthemarestared;iftheirwagescanbearsuchanamountofreduction,orifcharityinterposesbetweenthemandabsolutedestitution,thereisnoreasonthattheirlabourshouldproducelessinthenextyearthanintheyearbefore。Iftheyproduceasmuchasusual,havingbeenpaidlessbysomanymillionssterling,thesemillionsaregainedbytheiremployers。Thebreachmadeinthecapitalofthecountryisthusinstantlyrepaired,butrepairedbytheprivationsandoftentherealmiseryofthelabouringclass。Hereisamplereasonwhysuchperiods,eveninthemostunfavourablecircumstances,mayeasilybetimesofgreatgaintothosewhoseprosperityusuallypasses,intheestimationofsociety,fornationalprosperity。(3*)
  ThisleadstothevexedquestiontowhichDr。Chalmershasveryparticularlyadverted;whetherthefundsrequiredbyagovernmentforextraordinaryunproductiveexpenditure,arebestraisedbyloans,theinterestonlybeingprovidedbytaxes,Orwhethertaxesshouldbeatoncelaidontothewholeamount;
  whichiscalledinthefinancialvocabulary,raisingthewholeofthesupplieswithintheyear。Dr。Chalmersisstronglyforthelattermethod。Hesays,thecommonnotionisthatincallingforthewholeamountinoneyear,yourequirewhatiseitherimpossible,orveryinconvenient;thatthepeoplecannot,withoutgreathardship,paythewholeatonceoutoftheiryearlyincome;
  andthatitismuchbettertorequireofthemasmallpaymenteveryyearintheshapeofinterest,thansogreatasacrificeonceforall。Towhichhisansweris,thatthesacrificeismadeequallyineithercase。Whateverisspent,cannotbutbedrawnfromyearlyincome。Thewholeandeverypartofthewealthproducedinthecountry,forms,orhelpstoform,theyearlyincomeofsomebody。Theprivationwhichitissupposedmustresultfromtakingtheamountintheshapeoftaxesisnotavoidedbytakingitinaloan。Thesufferingisnotaverted,butonlythrownuponthelabouringclasses,theleastable,andwholeastought,tobearit:whilealltheinconveniences,physical,moral,andpolitical,producedbymaintainingtaxesfortheperpetualpaymentoftheinterest,areincurredinpureloss。
  Whenevercapitaliswithdrawnfromproduction,orfromthefunddestinedforproduction,tobelenttotheState,andexpendedunproductively,thatwholesumiswithheldfromthelabouringclasses:theloan,therefore,isintruthpaidoffthesameyear;
  thewholeofthesacrificenecessaryforpayingitoffisactuallymade:onlyitispaidtothewrongpersons,andthereforedoesnotextinguishtheclaim;andpaidbytheveryworstoftaxes,ataxexclusivelyonthelabouringclass。Andafterhaving,inthismostpainfulandunjustway,gonethroughthewholeeffortnecessaryforextinguishingthedebt,thecountryremainschargedwithit,andwiththepaymentofitsinterestinperpetuity。
  Theseviewsappeartomestrictlyjust,insofarasthevalueabsorbedinloanswouldotherwisehavebeenemployedinproductiveindustrywithinthecountry。Thepracticalstateofthecase,however,seldomexactlycorrespondswiththissupposition。Theloansofthelesswealthycountriesaremadechieflywithforeigncapital,whichwouldnot,perhaps,havebeenbroughtintobeinvestedonanylesssecuritythanthatofthegovernment:whilethoseofrichandprosperouscountriesaregenerallymade,notwithfundswithdrawnfromproductiveemployment,butwiththenewaccumulationsconstantlymakingfromincome,andoftenwithapartofthemwhich,ifnotsotaken,wouldhavemigratedtocolonies,orsoughtotherinvestmentsabroad。Inthesecases(whichwillbemoreparticularlyexaminedhereafter*),thesumwantedmaybeobtainedbyloanwithoutdetrimenttothelabourers,orderangementofthenationalindustry,andevenperhapswithadvantagetoboth,incomparisonwithraisingtheamountbytaxation,sincetaxes,especiallywhenheavy,arealmostalwayspartlypaidattheexpenseofwhatwouldotherwisehavebeensavedandaddedtocapital。Besides,inacountrywhichmakessogreatyearlyadditionstoitswealththatapartcanbetakenandexpendedunproductivelywithoutdiminishingcapital,orevenpreventingaconsiderableincrease,itisevidentthatevenifthewholeofwhatissotakenwouldhavebecomecapital,andobtainedemploymentinthecountry,theeffectonthelabouringclassesisfarlessprejudicial,andthecaseagainsttheloansystemmuchlessstrong,thaninthecasefirstsupposed。Thisbriefanticipationofadiscussionwhichwillfinditsproperplaceelsewhere,appearednecessarytopreventfalseinferencesfromthepremisespreviouslylaiddown。
  9。WenowpasstoafourthfundamentaltheoremrespectingCapital,whichis,perhaps,ofteneroverlookedormisconceivedthanevenanyoftheforegoing。Whatsupportsandemploysproductivelabour,isthecapitalexpendedinsettingittowork,andnotthedemandofpurchasersfortheproduceofthelabourwhencompleted。Demandforcommoditiesisnotdemandforlabour。
  Thedemandforcommoditiesdeterminesinwhatparticularbranchofproductionthelabourandcapitalshallbeemployed;itdeterminesthedirectionofthelabour;butnotthemoreorlessofthelabouritself,orofthemaintenanceorpaymentofthelabour。Thesedependontheamountofthecapital,orotherfundsdirectlydevotedtothesustenanceandremunerationoflabour。
  Suppose,forinstance,thatthereisademandforvelvet;afundreadytobelaidoutinbuyingvelvet,butnocapitaltoestablishthemanufacture。Itisofnoconsequencehowgreatthedemandmaybe;unlesscapitalisattractedintotheoccupation,therewillbenovelvetmade,andconsequentlynonebought;
  unless,indeed,thedesireoftheintendingpurchaserforitissostrong,thatheemployspartofthepricehewouldhavepaidforit,inmakingadvancestowork—people,thattheymayemploythemselvesinmakingvelvet;thatis,unlessheconvertspartofhisincomeintocapital,andinveststhatcapitalinthemanufacture。Letusnowreversethehypothesis,andsupposethatthereisplentyofcapitalreadyformakingvelvet,butnodemand。Velvetwillnotbemade;butthereisnoparticularpreferenceonthepartofcapitalformakingvelvet。
  Manufacturersandtheirlabourersdonotproduceforthepleasureoftheircustomers,butforthesupplyoftheirownwants,andhavingstillthecapitalandthelabourwhicharetheessentialsofproduction,theycaneitherproducesomethingelsewhichisindemand,oriftherebenootherdemand,theythemselveshaveone,andcanproducethethingswhichtheywantfortheirownconsumption。Sothattheemploymentaffordedtolabourdoesnotdependonthepurchasers,butonthecapital。Iam,ofcourse,nottakingintoconsiderationtheeffectsofasuddenchange。Ifthedemandceasesunexpectedly,afterthecommoditytosupplyitisalreadyproduced,thisintroducesadifferentelementintothequestion:thecapitalhasactuallybeenconsumedinproducingsomethingwhichnobodywantsoruses,andithasthereforeperished,andtheemploymentwhichitgavetolabourisatanend,notbecausethereisnolongerademand,butbecausethereisnolongeracapital。Thiscasethereforedoesnottesttheprinciple。Thepropertestis,tosupposethatthechangeisgradualandforeseen,andisattendedwithnowasteofcapital,themanufacturebeingdiscontinuedbymerelynotreplacingthemachineryasitwearsout,andnotreinvestingthemoneyasitcomesinfromthesaleoftheproduce。Thecapitalisthusreadyforanewemployment,inwhichitwillmaintainasmuchlabourasbefore。Themanufacturerandhiswork—peoplelosethebenefitoftheskillandknowledgewhichtheyhadacquiredintheparticularbusiness,andwhichcanonlybepartiallyofusetotheminanyother;andthatistheamountoflosstothecommunitybythechange。Butthelabourerscanstillwork,andthecapitalwhichpreviouslyemployedthemwill,eitherinthesamehands,orbybeinglenttoothers,employeitherthoselabourersoranequivalentnumberinsomeotheroccupation。
  Thistheorem,thattopurchaseproduceisnottoemployslabour;thatthedemandforlabourisconstitutedbythewageswhichprecedetheproduction,andnotbythedemandwhichmayexistforthecommoditiesresultingfromtheproduction;isapropositionwhichgreatlyneedsalltheillustrationitcanreceive。Itis,tocommonapprehension,aparadox;andevenamongpoliticaleconomistsofreputation,Icanhardlypointtoany,exceptMr。RicardoandM。Say,whohavekeptitconstantlyandsteadilyinview。Almostallothersoccasionallyexpressthemselvesasifapersonwhobuyscommodities,theproduceoflabour,wasanemployeroflabour,andcreatedademandforitasreally,andinthesamesense,asifheboughtthelabouritselfdirectly,bythepaymentofwages。Itisnowonderthatpoliticaleconomyadvancesslowly,whensuchaquestionasthisstillremainsopenatitsverythreshold。Iapprehend,thatifbydemandforlabourbemeantthedemandbywhichwagesareraised,orthenumberoflabourersinemploymentincreased,demandforcommoditiesdoesnotconstitutedemandforlabour。Iconceivethatapersonwhobuyscommoditiesandconsumesthemhimself,doesnogoodtothelabouringclasses;andthatitisonlybywhatheabstainsfromconsuming,andexpendsindirectpaymentstolabourersinexchangeforlabour,thathebenefitsthelabouringclasses,oraddsanythingtotheamountoftheiremployment。