political economy-第6节
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are all equally advancing towards consumption。 But the first when consumed is absolutely destroyed； for societies； as for individuals； it is merely an expense： whereas the second and third； after being consumed； are re…produced under a new form； and for societies； as for individuals； the consumption of them is a putting out to profit； or the circulation of capitals。 We shall better understand this movement of wealth； which； perhaps； it is difficult to follow； by fixing our observation on a single family engaged in the simplest of all speculations。 A solitary farmer has reaped a hundred bags of corn； and is destitute of any market to which he can carry it。 At all events； this corn must be consumed within the year； otherwise it will be worth nothing to the farmer。 But he and his family may require only thirty bags of it； this is his expense： another thirty may be employed to support workmen engaged in felling the forests； or draining the marshes of the neighbourhood； to put them under culture； this will be converting thirty bags into fixed capital： and； finally； the remaining forty bags may be sown； and formed into a circulating capital； in place of the twenty bags sown the preceding year。 The hundred are thus consumed； but seventy of them are put out to profit； they will reappear partly at the next harvest； partly at those which follow。 By this means； in consuming he will have saved。 Yet the limits of such an operation are easily discerned。 If； this year； out of the hundred bags which he reaped； he could get no more than sixty eaten； who will eat the two hundred bags produced next year by the augmentation of his seed？* Resuming these three sorts of wealth； which； as we have seen； become distinct in a private family； let us now consider each sort with regard to the whole nation； and see how the national revenue may arise from this division。 As the farmer required a primitive quantity of labour to be expended in cutting down the forests； and draining the marshes which he meant to cultivate； so； for every kind of enterprise； there is required a primitive quantity of labour to facilitate and augment the circulating capital。 The ore cannot be obtained till the mine is opened； canals must be dug； machinery and mills must be constructed； before they can be used； manufactories must be built； and looms set up； before the wool； the hemp； or the silk can be weaved。 This first advance is always accomplished by labour； this labour is always represented by wages； and these wages are always exchanged for necessaries of life； which the workmen consume in executing their task。 Hence what we have called fixed capital； is a part of the annual consumption； transformed into durable establishments； calculated to increase the productive power of future labour。 Such establishments themselves grow old； decay； and are slowly consumed in their turn； after having long contributed to augment the annual production。 As the farmer required seed； which； after being committed to the earth； was returned fivefold in harvest； so likewise； every undertaker of useful labour requires raw materials to work upon； and wages for his workmen； equivalent to the necessaries of life consumed by them in their labour。 His operations thus begin with a consumption； and this is followed by a reproduction which should be more abundant； since it must be equivalent to the raw materials worked upon； so the necessaries of life consumed by his workmen in their labour； to the sum by which his machinery and all his fixed capitals have been deteriorated during the production； and lastly to the profit of all concerned in the labour； who have supported its fatigues solely in the hope of gaining by it。 The farmer sowed twenty bags of corn to reap a hundred； the manufacturer will make a calculation nearly similar。 And as the farmer at harvest must recover not only a compensation for his seed； but likewise for all his labours； so the manufacturer must find in his production； not the raw materials only； but all the wages of his workmen； all the interests and profits of his fixed capital； with all the interests and profits of his circulating capital。 In the last place； the farmer may augment his seed every year； but he will not fail to recollect that； since his crops increase in the same necessaries； he is not sure of always finding men to eat them。 The manufacturer； in like manner； devoting the savings of each year to increase his re…production； must recollect the necessity of finding purchasers and consumers for the increasing products of his establishment。 Since the fund destined for consumption no longer produces any thing； and since each man strives incessantly to preserve and augment his fortune； each will also restrict his consumable fund； and instead of accumulating in his house a quantity of necessaries greatly superior to what he can consume； he will augment his fixed or circulating capital； by all that he does not expend。 In the present condition of society； a part of the fund destined for consumption remains in the retail…dealer's hand； awaiting the buyer's confidence； another part destined to be consumed very slowly； as houses； furniture； carriages； horses； continues in the hands of persons whose business it is to sell the use of it； without abandoning the property。 A considerable portion of the wealth of opulent nations is constantly thrown back into the fields destined for consumption； but although it still gives profit to its holders； it has ceased to augment the national re…production。 The annual distribution of the wealth； annually reproduced； among all the citizens composing the nation； constitutes the national revenue。 It consists of all the value； by which the re…production surpasses the consumption that produced it。 Thus the farmer； after deducting from his crop a quantity equal to the seed of the foregoing year； finds remaining the part which is to support his family； … a revenue to which they have acquired right by means of their annual labour； the part which is to support his workmen； who have acquired the right to it by the same title； the part with which he is to satisfy the landlord； who has acquired right to this revenue by the original improvement of the soil； now no longer repeated； and lastly； the part with which he is to pay the interest of his debts； or indemnify himself for the employment of his own capital … a revenue to which he has acquired right by the primitive labours which produced his capital。 So likewise； the manufacturer finds； in the annual produce of his manufactory； first the raw material employed； secondly； the equivalent of his own wages； and those of his workmen； to which their labour alone gives them right； thirdly； an equivalent for the annual detriment and interest of his fixed capital； to which revenue he or the proprietor has acquired right by a primitive labour； and lastly； an equivalent for the interest of his circulating capital； which has been produced by another primitive labour。 It is to be observed that； among those who share the national revenue； some acquire a new right in it every year by a new labour； others have previously acquired a permanent right by a primitive labour； which has rendered the annual labour more advantageous。 No one obtains a share of the national revenue； except in virtue of what he himself or his representatives have accomplished to produce it； unless； as we shall soon see； he receives it at second hand； from its primitive proprietors； by way of compensation for services done to them。 Now； whoever consumes without fulfilling the condition which alone gives him right to the revenue； whoever consumes without having a revenue； or beyond what he has； whoever consumes his capital in place of revenue； is advancing to ruin； and a nation composed of such consumers is advancing to ruin likewise。 Revenue； indeed； is that quantity by which the national wealth is increased every year； and which accordingly may be destroyed； without the nation's becoming poorer； but the nation which； without re…production； destroys a quantity of wealth； superior in this annual increase； destroys the very means by which it would have acquired an equal re…production in subsequent years。 By a circular concatenation； in which every effect becomes a cause in its turn； production gives revenue； revenue furnishes and regulates a consumable fund； which fund again causes production and measures it。 The national wealth continues to augment； and the state to prosper； so long as these three quantities； which are proportional to each other； continue to augment in a gradual manner； but whenever the proportion among them is broken； the state decays。 A derangement of the mutual proportion subsisting among production； revenue； and consumption； becomes equally prejudicial to the nation； whether the production give a revenue smaller than usual； in which case a part of the capital must pass to the fund of consumption； or whether； on the contrary； this consumption diminish； and no longer call for a fresh production。 To cause distress in the state； it is enough that the equilibrium be broken。 Production may diminish when habits of idleness gain footing among the labouring classes； capital may diminish when prodigality and luxury be
