Itisnotsodifficulttointroduceslaveryintoastatewherelibertyisestablished;becausesucharevolutionmightbebroughtaboutbyforce,and,forthereasonsandviolence,whichmakeeverythinggivewayabove-mentioned,Imustconclude,thattheconsequencesofsucharevolutionwouldtendtoextinguish,oratleast,withoutthegreatestindustry:butweresuchprecaution,greatlytochecktheprogressofprecautionsproperlytaken;wereslaveryreducedtoatemporaryandconditionalservice,andputunderproperregulations;itmightprove,ofallothers,themostexcellentexpedientforrenderingthelowerclassesofapeoplehappyandflourishing;andforpreventingthatabusiveprocreation,fromwhichthegreatmiserytowhichtheyareexposedatpresentchieflyproceeds。Butaseverymodificationofslaveryisquitecontrarytothespiritofmoderntimes,Ishallcarrysuchspeculationsnofarther。ThusmuchI
havethoughtitnecessarytoobserve,bytheway,onlyforthesakeofsomeprincipleswhichIshallhaveoccasionafterwardstoapplytoourownoeconomyforwhere-everanynotableadvantageisfoundaccompanyingslavery,itisthedutyofamodernstatesmantofalluponamethodofprofitingbyit,withoutwoundingthespiritofEuropeanliberty。Andthishemayaccomplishinathousandways,bytheaidofgoodlaws,calculatedforcuttingofffromthelowerclassesofapeopleanyinteresttheycanhaveininvolvingthemselvesinwantandmisery,openingtothematthesametimeaneasyprogresstowardseaseandprosperity。
Herefollowsanexpositionoftheprinciples,fromwhichI
wasledtosay,inaformerchapter,thatthefailureoftheslavishformoffeudalgovernment,andtheextensiontherebygiventocivilanddomesticliberty,werethesourcefromwhichthewholesystemofmodernpolicyhassprung。
Underthefeudalform,thehigherclasseswereperhapsmorefreethanatpresent,butthelowerclasseswereeitherslaves,orunderamostserviledependence,which,astotheconsequenceofinterruptingtheprogressofprivateindustry,isentirelythesamething。
Icannotpretendtoadvance,asaconfirmationofthisdoctrine,thattheestablishmentofslaveryinourcoloniesinAmericawasmadewithaviewtopromoteagriculture,andtocurbmanufacturesinthenewworld,becauseIdonotknowmuchofthesentimentsofpoliticiansatthattime:butifitbetrue,thatslaveryhastheeffectofadvancingagriculture,andotherlaboriousoperationswhichareofasimplenature,andatthesametimeofdiscouraginginventionandingenuity;andifthemother-countryhasoccasionfortheproduceofthefirst,inordertosubsistortoemploythosewhoaretakenupathomeintheprosecutionofthelatter;thenImustconclude,thatslaveryhasbeenveryluckily,ifnotpolitically,establishedtocompasssuchanend:andtherefore,ifanycolony,whereslaveryisnotcommon,shalleverbegintorivaltheindustryofthemother-country,averygoodwayoffrustratingtheattemptwillbe,toencouragetheintroductionofslavesintosuchcolonieswithoutanyrestrictions,andtoallowittoworkitsnaturaleffect。
Havinggiventhedefinitionoftradeandindustry,asrelativetomyinquiry,Icomenowtoexaminetheirimmediateconnections,thebettertocementthesubjectofthisbook,withtheprinciplesdeducedintheformer。
Intreatingofthereciprocalwantsofasociety,andinshewinghownaturallytheirbeingsuppliedbylabourandingenuitytendstoincreasepopulationononehand,andagricultureontheother,thebettertosimplifyourideas,wesupposedthetransitiontobedirectfromthemanufacturertotheconsumer,andbothtobemembersofthesamesociety。Mattersnowbecomemorecomplex,bytheintroductionoftradeamongdifferentnations,whichisamethodofcollectinganddistributingtheproduceofindustry,bytheinterpositionofathirdprinciple。
Tradereceivesfromathousandhands,anddistributestoasmany。
Toask,whethertradeowesitsbeginningtoindustry,orindustrytotrade,islikeasking,whetherthemotionoftheheartisowingtotheblood,orthemotionofthebloodtotheheart。Boththeoneandtheother,Isuppose,areformedbysuchinsensibledegrees,thatitisimpossibletodeterminewherethemotionbegins。Butsosoonasthebodycomestobeperfectlyformed,Ihavelittledoubtoftheheart’sbeingtheprincipleofcirculation。Letmeapplythistothepresentquestion。
Amanmustfirstexist,beforehecanfeelwant;hemustwant,thatis,desire,beforehewilldemand;andhemustdemand,beforehecanreceive。Thisisanaturalchain,andfromitwehaveconcludedinBookI,thatpopulationisthecause,andagriculturetheeffect。
Byaparallelreasonitmaybealleged,thataswantsexcitetoindustry,andareconsideredasthecauseofit;andastheproduceofindustrycannotbeexchangedwithouttrade;sotrademustbeaneffectofindustry。TothisIagree:butImustobserve,thatthisexchangedoesnotconveymyideaoftrade,althoughIadmit,thatitistherootfromwhichtheothersprings;itistheseed,butnottheplant;andtrade,aswehavedefinedit,conveysanotheridea。Theworkmenmustnotbeinterrupted,inordertoseekforanexchange,northeconsumerputtothetroubleoffindingoutthemanufacturer。Theobjectoftradethereforeisnomorethananewwant,whichcallsforasetofmentosupplyit;andtradehasapowerfuleffectinpromotingindustry,byfacilitatingtheconsumptionofitsproduce。
Whilewantscontinuesimpleandfew,aworkmanfindstimeenoughtodistributeallhiswork:whenwantsbecomemoremultiplied,menmustworkharder;timebecomesprecious;hencetradeisintroduced。Theywhowanttoconsume,sendthemerchant,inamanner,totheworkmanforhislabour,anddonotgothemselves;theworkmansellstothisinterposedperson,anddoesnotlookoutforaconsumer。Letmenowtakeafamiliarinstanceofinfanttrade,inordertoshewhowitgrowsandrefines:thiswillillustratewhatIhavebeensaying。
Iwalkoutofthegatesofacityinamorning,andmeetwithfivehundredpersons,menandwomen,everyonebringingtomarketasmallparcelofherbs,chickens,eggs,fruits,&c。Itoccurstomeimmediatelythatthesepeoplemusthavelittletodoathome,sincetheycometomarketforsosmallavalue。Someyearsafterwards,Ifindnothingbuthorses,carts,andwaggons,carryingthesameprovisions。Imustthenconclude,thateitherthoseIusedtomeetbeforearenomoreinthecountry,butpurgedoff,asbeingfounduseless,afteramethodhasbeenfoundofcollectingalltheirburdensintoafewcarts;orthattheyhavefoundoutamoreprofitableemploymentthancarryingeggsandgreenstomarket。Whicheverhappenstobethecase,thischangewillpointouttheintroductionofwhatIcalltrade;towit,thiscollectingofeggs,fruit,fowl,&c。fromtwentyhands,inordertodistributeittoasmanymorewithinthewalls。Theconsequenceis,thatagreatdealoflabourissaved;thatistosay,thecartgivestimetotwentypeopletolabour,iftheyaredisposedtoit;andwhenwantsincrease,theywillbereadytosupplythem。
Wecannotthereforesay,thattradewillforceindustry,orthatindustrywillforcetrade;butwemaysay,thattradewillfacilitateindustry,andthatindustrywillsupporttrade。Boththeoneandtheotherhoweverdependuponathirdprinciple;towit,atasteforsuperfluity,inthosewhohaveanequivalenttogiveforit。Thistastewillproducedemand,andthisagainwillbecomethemainspringofthewholeoperation。
Chap。II
OfDemandThisisnonewsubject;itisonlygoingoverwhathasbeentreatedofveryextensivelyinthefirstbook,underanothername,andrelativelytoothercircumstances。Theseideasweretherekeptassimpleaspossible;heretheytakeamorecomplexform,andappearinanewdress。
Thewantsofmankindweresaidtopromotetheirmultiplication,byaugmentingthedemandforthefoodofthefreehands,who,bysupplyingthesewants,areenabledtoofferanequivalentfortheirfood,tothefarmerswhoproducedit;andasthiswayofbarteringisarepresentationoftradeinitsinfancy,itisnowonderthattrade,whengrownup,shouldstillpreservearesemblancetoit。
Demand,consideredasatermappropriatedtotrade,willnowbeusedinsteadofwants;thetermusedinthefirstbookrelativelytobartering;wemustthereforeexpect,thattheoperationsofthesameprinciple,underdifferentappellations,willconstantlyappearsimilar,ineveryapplicationwecanmakeofittodifferentcircumstances。
Whetherthistermbeappliedtobarteringortotrade,itmustconstantlyappearreciprocal。IfIdemandapairofshoes,theshoemakereitherdemandsmoney,orsomethingelseforhisownuse。Topreventthereforetheambiguityofaterm,which,fromthesterilityoflanguage,istakenindifferentacceptations,accordingtothecircumstanceswhicharesupposedtoaccompanyit,Ishallendeavourshortlytoanalyzeit。
First,Demandiseverunderstoodtoberelativetomerchandize。Ademandformoney,exceptinbillsofexchange,isnevercalleddemand。Whenthosewhohavemerchandizeuponhand,aredesirousofconvertingthemintomoney,theyaresaidtooffertosale;andif,inordertofindabuyer,theylowertheirprice,then,insteadofsayingthedemandformoneyishigh,wesaythedemandforgoodsislow。
Secondly,Supposeashiptoarriveataportloadedwithgoods,withanintentiontopurchaseothersinreturn,theoperationbecomesonlydouble。Theshipofferstosale,andthedemandoftheportissaidtobehighorlow,accordingtotheheightofthepriceoffered,notaccordingtothequantitydemanded,ornumberofdemanders。Whenallissold,thentheshipbecomesdemander。andifhisdemandbeproportionallyhigherthantheformer,wesayuponthewhole,thatthedemandisforthecommoditiesoftheport;thatis,theportoffers,andtheshipdemands。ThisIcallreciprocaldemand。
Thirdly,Demandiseithersimpleorcompound。Simple,whenthedemanderisbutone,compound,whentheyaremore。Butthisisnotsomuchrelativetopersonsastointerests。Twentypeopledemandingfromthesamedeterminateinterestformbutasimpledemand;itbecomescompoundorhigh,whendifferentinterestsproduceacompetition。Itmaythereforebesaid,thatwhenthereisnocompetitionamongbuyers,demandissimple,letthequantitydemandedbegreatorsmall,letthebuyersbefewormany。Whenthereforeinthecontractofbarter,thedemandupononesideissimple,upontheothercompound,thatwhichiscompoundisconstantlycalledthedemand,theothernot。
Fourthly,Demandiseithergreatorsmall:great,whenthequantitydemandedisgreat;small,whenthequantitydemandedissmall。
Fifthly,Demandiseitherhighorlow。high,whenthecompetitionamongthebuyersisgreat;low,whenthecompetitionamongthesellersisgreat。Fromthesedefinitionsitfollows,thattheconsequenceofagreatdemand,isagreatsale;theconsequenceofahighdemand,isagreatprice。Theconsequenceofasmalldemand,isasmallsale;theconsequenceofalowdemand,isasmallprice。
Sixthly,Thenatureofdemandistoencourageindustry。andwhen,itisregularlymade,theeffectofitis,thatthesupplyforthemostpartisfoundtobeinproportiontoit,andthenthedemandiscommonlysimple。Itbecomescompoundfromothercircumstances。Aswhenitisirregular,thatis,unexpected,orwhentheusualsupplyfails;theconsequenceofwhichis,thattheprovisionmadeforthedemand,fallingshortofthejustproportion,occasionsacompetitionamongthebuyers,andraisesthecurrent,thatis,theordinaryprices。Fromthisitis,thatwecommonlysay,demandraisesprices。Pricesarehighorlowaccordingtodemand。Theseexpressionsarejust;becausethesterilityoflanguageobligesustheretoattendtocircumstanceswhichareonlyimplied。
Demandisunderstoodtobehighorlow,relativelytothecommonrateofit,ortothecompetitionbetweenbuyers,toobtaintheprovisionmadeforit。Whendemandisunderstoodtoberelativetothequantitydemanded,itmustbecalledgreatorsmall,ashasbeensaid。
Seventhly,Demandhasnotalwaysthesameeffectinraisingprices。wemustthereforecarefullyattendtothedifferencebetweenademandforthingsofthefirstnecessityforlife,andforthingsindifferent;alsobetweenademandmadebytheimmediateconsumers,andonemadebymerchants,whobuyinordertosellagain。Inbothcasesthecompetitionwillhavedifferenteffects。Thingsofabsolutenecessitymustbeprocured,letthepricebeeversogreat:consumerswhohavenoviewtoprofit,buttosatisfytheirdesires,willenterintoastrongercompetitionthanmerchants,whoareanimatedbynopassion,andwhoareregulatedinwhattheyofferbytheirprospectofgainalone。
Hencethegreatdifferenceinthepriceofgrainindifferentyears;hencetheuniformstandardofthepriceofmerchandize,attheIndiasalesandinfairsofdistribution,suchasFranckfort,Beaucaire,&c。,hence,also,theadvantagewhichconsumersfindinmakingtheirprovisionatthesametimethatmerchantsmaketheirs;hencethesuddenriseandfallinthepriceoflabouringcattleincountrymarkets,whereeveryoneprovidesforhimself。
Letwhathasbeensaidsufficeatsettingout:thisprinciplewillbemuchbetterexplainedbyitsapplicationasweadvance,thanbyalltheabstractdistinctionsIamcapabletogiveofit。
Chap。III
OfthefirstPrinciplesofbartering,andhowthisgrowsintoTradeImustnowbeginbytracingtradetoitssource,inordertoreduceittoitsfirstprinciples。
Themostsimpleofalltrade,isthatwhichiscarriedonbybarteringthenecessaryarticlesofsubsistence。Ifwesupposetheearthfreetothefirstpossessor,thispersonwhocultivatesitwillfirstdrawfromithisownfood,andthesurpluswillbetheobjectofbarter:hewillgivethisinexchangetoanyonewhowillsupplyhisotherwants。Thisashasbeensaidsupposesnaturallybothasurplusquantityoffoodproducedbylabour,andalsofreehands;forhewhomakesatradeofagriculturecannotsupplyhimselfwithallothernecessaries,aswellasfood;andhewhomakesatradeofsupplyingthefarmerswithsuchnecessariesinexchangeforhissurplusoffood,cannotbeemployedinproducingthatfood。Themorethenecessitiesofmanincrease,caterisparibus,themorefreehandsarerequiredtosupplythem;andthemorefreehandsarerequired,themoresurplusfoodmustbeproducedbyadditionallabour,tosupplytheirdemand。
Thisistheleastcomplexkindoftrade,andmaybecarriedontoagreaterorlessextent,indifferentcountries,accordingtothedifferentdegreesofthewantstobesupplied。Inacountrywherethereisnomoney,noranythingequivalenttoit,Iimaginethewantsofmankindwillbeconfinedtofewobjects;
towit,theremovingtheinconveniencesofhunger,thirst,cold,heat,danger,andthelike。Afreemanwhobyhisindustrycanprocureallthecomfortsofasimplelife,willenjoyhisrest,andworknomore:And,ingeneral,allincreaseofworkwillcease,sosoonasthedemandforthepurposesmentionedcomestobesatisfied。Thereisaplainreasonforthis。Whenthefreehandshaveprocured,bytheirlabour,wherewithaltosupplytheirwants,theirambitionissatisfied;sosoonasthehusbandmenhaveproducedthenecessarysurplusforrelievingtheirs,theyworknomore。Herethenisanaturalstopputtoindustry,consequentlytobartering。This,inthefirstbookwehavecalledthemoralimpossibilityofaugmentingnumbers。
Thenextthingtobeexamined,is,howbarteringgrowsintotrade,properlysocalledandunderstood,accordingtothedefinitiongivenofitabove;howtradecomestobeextendedamongmen;howmanufactures,moreornamentalthanuseful,cometobeestablished;andhowmencometosubmittolabour,inordertoacquirewhatisnotabsolutelynecessaryforthem。
This,inafreesociety,Itaketobechieflyowingtotheintroductionofmoney,andatasteforsuperfluitiesinthosewhopossessit。
Inancienttimes,moneywasnotwanting;butthetasteforsuperfluitiesnotbeinginproportiontoit,thespeciewaslockedup。ThiswasthecaseinEuropefourhundredyearsago。A
newtasteforsuperfluityhasdrawn,perhaps,moremoneyintocirculation,fromourowntreasures,thanfromtheminesofthenewworld。Thepooropinionweentertainoftherichesofourforefathers,isfoundeduponthemodernwayofestimatingwealth,bythequantityofcoinincirculation,fromwhichweconclude,thatthegreatestpartofthespecienowinourhandsmusthavecomefromAmerica。
Itismore,therefore,throughthetasteforsuperfluity,thaninconsequenceofthequantityofcoin,thattradecomestobeestablished;anditisinconsequenceoftradeonlythatweseeindustrycarrythingsinourdaystosohighapitchofrefinementanddelicacy。Letmeillustratethisbycomparingtogetherthedifferentoperationsofbarter,sale,andcommerce。
Whenreciprocalwantsaresuppliedbybarter,thereisnotthesmallestoccasionformoney:thisisthemostsimpleofallcombinations。
Whenwantsaremultiplied,barteringbecomesforobviousreasonsmoredifficult;uponthismoneyisintroduced。Thisisthecommonpriceofallthings:itisaproperequivalentinthehandsofthosewhofeelawant,perfectlycalculatedtosupplytheoccasionsofthosewho,byindustry,canrelieveit。Thisoperationofbuyingandsellingisalittlemorecomplexthantheformer,butstillwehaveherenoideaoftrade,becausewehavenotintroducedthemerchant,bywhoseindustryitiscarriedon。
Letthisthirdpersonbebroughtintoplay,andthewholeoperationbecomesclear。Whatbeforewecalledwants,ishererepresentedbytheconsumer;whatwecalledindustry,bythemanufacturer;whatwecalledmoney,bythemerchant。Themerchanthererepresentsthemoney,bysubstitutingcreditinitsplace;
andasthemoneywasinventedtofacilitatebarter,sothemerchantwithhiscredit,isanewrefinementupontheuseofmoney。Themerchant,Isay,rendersmoneystillmoreeffectualinperformingtheoperationsofbuyingandselling。Thisoperationistrade:itrelievesbothpartiesofthewholetroubleoftransportation,andadjustingwantstowants,orwantstomoney。
themerchantrepresentsbyturnsboththeconsumer,themanufacturer,andthemoney。Totheconsumerheappearsasthewholebodyofmanufacturers;tothemanufacturers,asthewholebodyofconsumers;andtotheoneandtheotherclasshiscreditsuppliestheuseofmoney。Thisissufficientatpresentforanillustration。Imustnowreturntothesimpleoperationsofmoneyinthehandsofthetwocontractingparties,thebuyerandtheseller,inordertoshowhowmencometosubmittolabourinordertoacquiresuperfluities。
Sosoonasmoneyisintroducedintoacountryitbecomes,aswehavesaidabove,anuniversalobjectofwanttoalltheinhabitants。Theconsequenceis,thatthefreehandsofthestate,whobeforestoppedworking,becausealltheirwantswereprovidedfor,havingthisnewobjectofambitionbeforetheireyes,endeavour,byrefinementsupontheirlabour,toremovethesmallerinconvenienceswhichresultfromasimplicityofmanners。
People,Ishallsuppose,whoformerlyknewbutonesortofclothingforallseasons,willinglypartwithalittlemoneytoprocureforthemselvesdifferentsortsofapparelproperlyadaptedtosummerandinter,whichtheingenuityofmanufacturers,andtheirdesireofgettingmoney,mayhavesuggestedtotheirinvention。
Ishallnotherepursuethegradualprogressofindustry,inbringingmanufacturestoperfection;norinterruptmysubjectwithanyfartherobservationsupontheadvantagesresultingtoindustry,fromtheestablishmentofcivilanddomesticliberty;
butshallonlysuggest,thattheserefinementsseemmoregenerallyowingtotheindustryandinventionofthemanufacturerswhobytheiringenuitydailycontrivemeansofsofteningorrelievinginconveniences,whichmankindseldomperceivetobesuch,tillthewayofremovingthembecontrived
thantothetasteforluxuryintherich,who,toindulgetheirease,engagethepoortobecomeindustrious。
Letanymanmakeanexperimentofthisnatureuponhimself,byenteringintothefirstshop。Hewillnowheresoquicklydiscoverhiswantsasthere。Everythingheseesappearseithernecessary,oratleasthighlyconvenient;andhebeginstowonderespeciallyifheberichhowhecouldhavebeensolongwithoutthatwhichtheingenuityoftheworkmanalonehadinvented,inorderthatfromthenoveltyitmightexcitehisdesire;forwhenitisbought,heillneveroncethinkmoreofitperhaps,noreverapplyittotheuseforwhichitatfirstappearedsonecessary。
Herethenisareasonwhymankindlabourthoughnotinwant。
Theybecomedesirousofpossessingtheveryinstrumentsofluxury,whichtheiravariceorambitionpromptedthemtoinventfortheuseofothers。
Whathasbeensaidrepresentstradeinitsinfancy,orratherthematerialswithwhichthisgreatfabricisbuilt。
Wehaveformedanideaofthewantsofmankindmultipliedeventoluxury,andabundantlysuppliedbytheemploymentofallthefreehandssetapartforthatpurpose。Butifwesupposetheworkmanhimselfdisposingofhiswork,andpurchasingwithitfoodfromthefarmer,clothsfromtheclothier,andingeneralseekingforthesupplyofeverywantfromthehandsofthepersondirectlyemployedforthepurposeofrelievingit;thiswillnotconveyanideaoftrade,accordingtoourdefinition。
Tradeandcommerceareanabbreviationofthislongprocess;
aschemeinventedandsetonfootbymerchants,fromaprincipleofgain,supportedandextendedamongmen,fromaprincipleofgeneralutilitytoeveryindividual,richorpoor,toeverysociety,greatorsmall。
Insteadofapin-makerexchanginghispinswithfiftydifferentpersons,forwhoselabourhehasoccasion,hesellsalltothemerchantformoneyorforcredit;and,asoccasionoffers,hepurchasesallhiswants,eitherdirectlyfromthosewhosupplythem,orfromothermerchantswhodealwithmanufacturersinthesamewayhismerchantdealtwithhim。
Anotheradvantageoftradeis,thatindustriouspeopleinonepartofthecountry,maysupplycustomersinanother,thoughdistant。Theymayestablishthemselvesinthemostcommodiousplacesfortheirrespectivebusiness,andhelponeanotherreciprocally,withoutmakingthedistantpartsofthecountrysufferforwantoftheirlabour。Theyarelikewiseexposedtonoavocationfromtheirwork,byseekingforcustomers。
Tradeproducesmanyexcellentadvantages;itmarksouttothemanufacturerswhentheirbranchisunderoroverstockedwithhands。Ifitbeunderstocked,theywillfindmoredemandthantheycananswer:ifitbeoverstocked,thesalewillbeslow。
Intelligentmen,ineveryprofession,willeasilydiscoverwhentheseappearancesareaccidental,andwhentheyproceedfromtherealprinciplesoftrade。whichareheretheobjectofourinquiry。
Posts,andcorrespondencebyletters,areaconsequenceoftrade,bythemeansofwhichmerchantsareregularlyinformedofeveryaugmentationordiminutionofindustryineverybranch,ineverypartofthecountry。Fromthisknowledgetheyregulatethepricestheyoffer;andastheyaremany,they,fromtheprinciplesofcompetitionwhichweshallhereafterexamine,serveasacheckupononeanother。
Fromthecurrentprices,themanufacturersareaswellinformedasiftheykeptthecorrespondencethemselves:thestatesmanfeelsperfectlywherehandsarewanting,andyoungpeopledestinedtoindustry,obey,inamanner,thecallofthepublic,andfallnaturallyintosupplythedemand。
Twogreatassistancestomerchants,especiallyintheinfancyoftrade,arepublicmarketsforcollectingtheworkofsmalldealers,andlargeundertakingsinthemanufacturingwaybyprivatehands。Bythesemeansthemerchantscomeattheknowledgeofthequantityofworkinthemarket,asontheotherhandthemanufacturerslearn,bythesaleofthegoods,theextentofthedemandforthem。Thesetwothingsbeingjustlyknown,thepriceofgoodsiseasilyfixed,asweshallpresentlysee。
Publicsalesservetocorrectthesmallinconvenienceswhichproceedfromtheoperationsoftrade。Asetofmanufacturersgotalltogetherintoonetown,andentirelytakenupwiththeirindustry,aretherebyaswellinformedoftherateofthemarket,asifeveryoneofthemcarriedthitherhiswork;anduponthearrivalofthemerchant,whoreadilytakesitofftheirhands,hehasnottheleastadvantageoverthemfromhisknowledgeofthestateofdemand。Thismanbothbuysandsellsinwhatiscalledwholesalethatisbylargeparcelsandfromhimretailerspurchase,whodistributethegoodstoeveryconsumerthroughoutthecountry。Theselastbuyfromwholesalemerchantsineverybranch,thatproportionofeverykindofmerchandizewhichissuitabletothedemandoftheirborough,city,orprovince。
Thus,allinconveniencesareprevented,atsomeadditionalcosttotheconsumer,who,forreasonsweshallafterwardspointout,mustnaturallyreimbursethewholeexpence。Thedistanceofthemanufacturer,theobscurityofhisdwelling,thecapriceinsellinghiswork,arequiteremoved;theretailerhasallinhisshop,andthepublicbuysatacurrentprice。
Chap。IV
HowthePricesofGoodsaredeterminedbyTradeInthepriceofgoods,Iconsidertwothingsasreallyexisting,andquitedifferentfromoneanother;towit;therealvalueofthecommodity,andtheprofituponalienation。Theintentionofthischapteristoestablishthisdistinction,andtoshewhowtheoperationoftradeseverallyinfluencesthestandardoftheoneandtheother;thatistosay,howtradehastheeffectofrenderingfixedanddeterminate,twothingswhichwouldotherwisebequitevagueanduncertain。
I。Thefirstthingtobeknownofanymanufacturewhenitcomestobesold,is,howmuchofitapersoncanperforminaday,aweek,amonth,accordingtothenatureofthework,whichmayrequiremoreorlesstimetobringittoperfection。Inmakingsuchestimates,regardistobehadtowhat,uponanaverageonly,aworkmanofthecountryingeneralmayperform,withoutsupposinghimthebestortheworstinhisprofession;orhavinganypeculiaradvantageordisadvantageastotheplacewhereheworks。
Hencethereasonwhysomepeoplethrivebytheirindustry,andothersnot;whysomemanufacturesflourishinoneplaceandnotinanother。
II。Thesecondthingtobeknown,isthevalueoftheworkman’ssubsistenceandnecessaryexpence,bothforsupplyinghispersonalwants,andprovidingtheinstrumentsbelongingtohisprofession,whichmustbetakenuponanaverageasabove;
exceptwhenthenatureoftheworkrequiresthepresenceoftheworkmanintheplaceofconsumption;foralthoughsometrades,andalmosteverymanufacture,maybecarriedoninplacesatadistance,andthereforemayfallunderonegeneralregulationastoprices,yetotherstherearewhich,bytheirnature,requirethepresenceoftheworkmanintheplaceofconsumption;andinthiscasethepricesmustberegulatedbycircumstancesrelativetoeveryparticularplace。
III。Thethirdandlastthingtobeknown,isthevalueofthematerials,thatisthefirstmatteremployedbytheworkman;
andiftheobjectofhisindustrybethemanufactureofanother,thesameprocessofinquirymustbegonethroughwithregardtothefirst,aswithregardtothesecond:andthusthemostcomplexmanufacturesmaybeatlastreducedtothegreatestsimplicity。Ihavebeenmoreparticularinthisanalysisofmanufacturesthanwasabsolutelynecessaryinthisplace,thatI
mightafterwardswiththegreaterease,pointoutthemethodsofdiminishingthepricesofthem。
Thesethreearticlesbeingknown,thepriceofmanufactureisdetermined。Itcannotbelowerthantheamountofallthethree,thatis,thantherealvalue;whateveritishigher,isthemanufacturer’sprofit。Thiswilleverbeinproportiontodemand,andthereforewillfluctuateaccordingtocircumstances。
Henceappearsthenecessityofagreatdemand,inordertopromoteflourishiugmanufactures。
Bytheextensivedealingsofmerchants,andtheirconstantapplicationtothestudyofthebalanceofworkanddemand,alltheabovecircumstancesareknowntothem,andaremadeknowntotheindustrious,whoregulatetheirlivingandexpenceaccordingtotheircertainprofit。Icallitcertain,becauseunderthesecircumstancestheyseldomovervaluetheirwork,andbynotovervaluingit,theyaresureofasale:aproofofthismaybehadfromdailyexperience。
Employaworkmaninacountrywherethereislittletradeorindustry,heproportionshispricealwaystotheurgencyofyourwant,oryourcapacitytopay;butseldomtohisownlabour。
Employanotherinacountryoftrade,hewillnotimposeuponyou,unlessperhapsyoubeastranger,whichsupposesyourbeingignorantofthevalue;butemploythesameworkmaninaworknotusualinthecountry,consequentlynotdemanded,consequentlynotregulatedastothevalue,hewillproportionhispriceasinthefirstsupposition。
Wemaythereforeconcludefromwhathasbeensaid,thatinacountrywheretradeisestablished,manufacturesmustflourish,fromthereadysale,theregulatedpriceofwork,andcertainprofitresultingfromindustry。Letusnextinquireintotheconsequencesofsuchasituation。
Chap。V
HowforeignTradeopenstoanindustriousPeople,andtheConsequencesofittotheMerchantswhosetitonfootThefirstconsequenceofthesituationdescribedintheprecedingchapter,is,thatwantsareeasilysupplied,fortheadequatevalueofthethingwanted。
Thenextconsequenceis,theopeningofforeigntradeunderitstwodenominationsofpassiveandactive。Strangersandpeopleofdistantcountriesfindingthedifficultyofhavingtheirwantssuppliedathome,andtheeaseofhavingthemsuppliedfromthiscountry,immediatelyhaverecoursetoit。Thisispassivetrade。
Theactiveiswhenmerchants,whohaveexecutedthisplanathomewithsuccess,begintotransportthelabouroftheircountrymenintootherregions,whicheitherproduce,orarecapableofproducingsucharticlesofconsumption,propertobemanufactured,asaremostdemandedathome;andconsequentlywillmeetwiththereadiestsale,andfetchthelargestprofits。Herethenistheopeningofforeigntrade,underitstwodenominationsofactiveandpassive:butasweareatpresentconsideringtheconsequencesofthisnewstateofthingswithrespecttothemerchants,weshalltakenofarthernotice,inthisplace,ofthatdivision:itwillnaturallycomeinafterwards。
Whatthenaretheconsequencesofthisnewcommercetoourmerchants,whohavelefttheirhomesinquestofgainabroad?
Thefirstis,thatarrivinginanynewcountry,theyfindthemselvesinthesamesituation,withregardtotheinhabitants,astheworkmeninthecountryofnotrade,withregardtothosewhoemployedhim;thatis,theyproportionthepriceoftheirgoodstotheeagernessofacquiring,orthecapacityofpaying,intheinhabitants,butnevertotheirrealvalue。
Thefirstprofitsthen,uponthistrade,mustbeveryconsiderable;andthedemandfromsuchacountrywillbehighorlow,greatorsmall,accordingtothespirit,nottherealwantsofthepeople:fortheseinallcountries,ashasbeensaid,mustfirstbesuppliedbytheinhabitantsthemselves,beforetheyceasetolabour。
Ifthepeopleofthisnot-tradingcountryasweshallnowcallitbeabundantlyfurnishedwithcommoditiesusefultothetraders,theywilleasilypartwiththem,atfirst,fortheinstrumentsofluxuryandease;butthegreatprofitofthetraderswillinsensiblyincreasethedemandfortheproductionsoftheirnewcorrespondents;thiswillhavetheeffectofproducingacompetitionbetweenthemselves,andtherebyofthrowingthedemandontheirside,fromtheprinciplesIshallafterwardsexplain。Thisisperpetuallyadisadvantageintraffic:themostit;andunpolishednationsintheworldquicklyperceivetheeffectsofaretaughttoprofitofthediscovery,inspiteoftheaddressofthosewhoarethemostexpertincommerce。
Thetraderswill,therefore,beveryfondoffallinguponeverymethodandcontrivancetoinspirethispeoplewithatasteofrefinementanddelicacy。Abundanceoffinepresents,consistingofeveryinstrumentofluxuryandsuperfluity,thebestadaptedtothegeniusofthepeople,willbegiventotheprinceandleadingmenamongthem。Workmenwillevenbeemployedathometostudythetasteofthestrangers,andtocaptivatetheirdesiresbyeverypossiblemeans。Themoreeagertheyareofpresents,themorelavishthetraderswillbeinbestowinganddiversifyingthem。Itisananimalputuptofatten,themoreheeatsthesoonerheisfitforslaughter。Whentheirtasteforsuperfluityisfullyformed,whentherelishfortheirformersimplicityissophisticated,poisoned,andobliterated,thentheyaresurelyinthefettersofthetraders,andthedeepertheygo,thelesspossibilitythereisoftheirgettingout。Thepresentsthenwilldieaway,havingservedtheirpurpose;andif,afterwards,theyarefoundtobecontinued,itwillprobablybetosupportthecompetitionagainstothernations,whowillinclinetoshareoftheprofits。
If,onthecontrary,thisnot-tradingnationdoesnotaboundwithcommoditiesusefultothetraders,thesewillmakelittleaccountoftradingwiththem,whatevertheirturnmaybe;butifwesupposethiscountryinhabitedbyalaboriouspeople,who,havingtakenatasteforrefinementfromthetraders,applythemselvestoagriculture,inordertoproducearticlesofsubsistence,theywillsolicitthemerchantstogivethempartoftheirmanufacturesinexchangeforthese;andthistradewillundoubtedlyhavetheeffectofmultiplyingnumbersinthetradingnation。Butiffoodcannotbefurnished,noranyotherbranchofproductionfoundouttosupportthecorrespondence,thetasteforrefinementwillsoondieaway,andtradewillstopinthisquarter。
HaditnotbeenforthefursinthosecountriesadjacenttoHudson’sBay,andinCanada,theEuropeansneverwouldhavethoughtofsupplyinginstrumentsofluxurytothosenations;andiftheinhabitantsofthoseregionshadnottakenatastefortheinstrumentsofluxuryfurnishedtothembytheEuropeans,theyneverwouldhavebecomesoindefatigablenorsodexteroushunters。Atthesametimewearenottosuppose,thatevertheseAmericanswouldhavecometoEuropeinquestofourmanufactures。
Itisthereforeowingtoourmerchants,thatthosenationsarebecomeinanydegreefondofrefinement;andthistaste,inallprobability,willnotsoonexceedtheproportionoftheproductionsoftheircountry。Fromthesebeginningsofforeigntradeitiseasytotraceitsincrease。
Onesteptowardsthis,istheestablishingcorrespondencesinforeigncountries;andthesearemoreorlessnecessaryinproportionasthecountrywheretheyareestablishedismoreorlesspolishedoracquaintedwithtrade。Theysupplythewantofposts,andpointouttothemerchantswhatproportiontheproductionsofthecountrybeartothedemandoftheinhabitantsformanufactures。Thiscommunicatesanideaofcommercetothenot-tradingnation,andtheyinsensiblybegintofixadeterminatevalueupontheirownproductions,whichperhapsborenodeterminatevalueatallbefore。
Letmetracealittletheprogressofthisrefinementinthesavages,inordertoshewhowithastheeffectofthrowingthedemanduponthetraders,andofcreatingacompetitionamongthem,fortheproductionsofthenewcountry。
Experienceshews,thatinanew-discoveredcountry,merchantsconstantlyfindsomearticleorotherofitsproductions,whichturnsouttoagreataccountincommerce;andweseethatthelongersuchatradesubsists,andthemoretheinhabitantstakeatasteforEuropeanmanufactures,themoretheirownproductionsriseintheirvalue,andthelessprofitismadebytradingwiththem,evenincaseswherethetradeiscarriedonbycompanies;
whichisaverywiseinstitutionforonereason,thatitcutsoffacompetitionbetweenourmerchants。
Thisweshallshew,initsproperplace,tobethebestmeansofkeepingpriceslowinfavourofthenation;howeveritmayworkacontraryeffectwithrespecttoindividualswhomustbuyfromthesemonopolies。
Whencompaniesarenotestablished,andwhentradeisopen,ourmerchants,bytheireagernesstoprofitofthenewtrade,betraythesecretsofit,theyenterintocompetitionforthepurchaseoftheforeignproduce,andthisraisespricesandfavoursthecommerceofthemostignorantsavages。
Someaccountforthisinadifferentmanner。Theyallegethatitisnotthiscompetitionwhichraisesprices;becausethereisalsoacompetitionamongthesavages,whichofthemshallgetthemerchandise;andthismaybesufficienttocounter-balancetheother,butinproportionasthequantityofgoodsdemandedbythesavages,asanexchangefortheproduceoftheircountry,becomesgreater,alessquantityofthisproducemustbegivenforeveryparcelofthegoods。
TothisIanswer,ThatIcannotadmitthisapparentreasontobeconsistentwiththeprinciplesoftrade,howeveringenioustheconceitmaybe。
Themerchantconstantlyconsidershisownprofitinpartingwithhisgoods,andisnotinfluencedbythereasonsofexpediencywhichthesavagesmayfind,toofferhimlessthanformerly;forwerethisprincipleofproportionadmittedgenerally,thepriceofmerchandisewouldalwaysbeatthediscretionofthebuyers。
Theobjectionherestatedisabundantlyplain;butitmustberesolvedinaverydifferentmanner。Herearetwosolutions:
First,Prices,Ihavesaid,aremadetorise,accordingasdemandishigh,notaccordingasitisgreat。Now,intheobjection,itissaid,that,inproportionasthedemandisgreat,alessproportionoftheequivalentmustgotoeveryparcelofthemerchandise;whichIapprehendtobefalse;andthisshewsthenecessityofmakingadistinctionbetweenthehighandthegreatdemand,thingsentirelydifferentintrade,andwhichcommunicatequitedifferentideas。
Secondly,Inalltradethereisanexchange,andinallexchange,wehavesaid,thereisareciprocaldemandimplied:itmustthereforebeexactlyinquiredinto,onwhichhandthecompetitionbetweenthedemandersisfound;thatistosay,onwhichhanditisstrongest;accordingtothedistinctioninthesecondchapter。
Iftheinhabitantsofthecountrybeincompetitionforthemanufactures,goodswillriseintheirpricemostundoubtedly,letthequantityoftheproducetheyhavetoofferbelargeorsmall;butsosoonasthesepricesriseabovethefaculties,ordesireofbuying,incertainindividuals,theirdemandwillstop,andtheirequivalentwillbepreventedfromcomingintocommerce。
Thiswilldisappointthetraders;andtherefore,astheirgainsaresupposedtobegreat,eitheracompetitionwilltakeplaceamongthemselves,whoshallcarryoffthequantityremaining,supposingthemtohaveseparateinterests;or,iftheyareunited,theymay,fromaviewofexpediency,voluntarilysinktheirprice,inordertobringitwithinthecompassofthefaculties,orintention,tobuyinthosewhoarestillpossessedofaportionofwhattheywant。
ItisfromtheeffectsofcompetitionamongsellersthatI
apprehendpricesarebroughtdown,notfromanyimaginaryproportionofquantitytoquantityinthemarket。Butofthismoreafterwards,initsproperplace。
Sosoonasthepriceofmanufacturesisbroughtaslowaspossible,inthenewnation;ifthesurplusoftheircommoditiesdoesnotsufficetopurchaseaquantityofmanufacturesproportionedtotheirwants,thispeoplemustbegintolabour:
forlabouristhenecessaryconsequenceofwant,realorimaginary;andbylabouritwillbesupplied。
Whenthiscomestobethecase,weimmediatelyfindtwotradingnationsinsteadofone;thebalanceofwhichtradewillalwaysbeinfavourofthemostindustriousandfrugal;asshallbefullyexplainedinanotherplace。
Letmenowdirectmyinquirymoreparticularlytowardstheconsequencesofthisnewstateofthingsproducedbycommerce,relativetothenot-tradingnation,inordertoshewtheeffectofapassiveforeigntrade。Ishallsparenopainsinillustrating,uponeveryoccasion,asIgoalong,thefundamentalprinciplesofcommerce,demand,andcompetition,evenperhapsattheexpenceofappearingtiresometosomeofmyreaders。
Chap。VI
ConsequencesoftheIntroductionofapassiveForeignTradeamongaPeoplewholiveinSimplicityandIdlenessWenowsupposethearrivaloftraders,allinoneinterest,withinstrumentsofluxuryandrefinement,ataportinacountryofgreatsimplicityofmanners,abundantlyprovidedbynaturewithgreatadvantagesforcommerce,andpeopledbyanationcapableofadoptingatasteforsuperfluities。
Thefirstthingthemerchantsdo,istoexposetheirgoods,andpointouttheadvantagesofmanythings,eitheragreeableorusefultomankindingeneral,suchaswines,spirits,instrumentsofagriculture,arms,andammunitionforhunting,netsforfishing,manufacturesforclothing,andthelike。Theadvantagesofthesearepresentlyperceived,andsuchcommoditiesareeagerlysoughtafter。Thenativesontheirsideproducewhattheymostesteem,generallysomethingsuperfluousorornamental。Thetraders,afterexaminingallcircumstances,determinetheobjectoftheirdemand,givingtheleastquantitypossibleinreturnforthissuperfluity,inordertoimpresstheinhabitantswithahighnotionofthevalueoftheirowncommodities;butasthisparsimonymaydomorehurtthangoodtotheirinterest,theyareverygenerousinmakingpresents,fromtheprinciplesmentionedabove。
Whentheexchangeiscompleted,andthetradersdepart,regretiscommonlymutual;theoneandtheotheraresorrythatthesuperfluitiesofthecountryfallshort。Areturnispromisedbythetraders,andassurancesaregivenbythenativesofabetterprovisionanothertime。
Whatarethefirstconsequencesofthisrevolution?Isitnotevident,that,inordertosupplyanequivalentforthisnewwant,morehandsmustbesettoworkthanformerly?Anditisevidentalso,thatthisaugmentationofindustrywillnotessentiallyincreasenumbers;aswassupposedtobetheeffectofitthroughthewholetrainofourreasoninginthefirstbook。
Why?Becausetheretheproduceoftheindustrywassupposedtobeconsumedathome;andhereitisintendedtobeexported。Butifwecanfindoutanyadditionalconsumptionathomeevenimpliedbythisnewtrade,Ithinkitwillhavetheeffectofaugmentingnumbers。Anexamplewillmakethisplain。
Letmesupposethesuperfluityofthiscountrytobetheskinsofwildbeasts,notproperforfood;themanufacturesoughtfor,brandy。Thebrandyissoldforfurs。Hewhohasfurs,orhewhocansparetimetohuntforthem,willdrinkbrandyinproportion:butIcannotfindoutanyreasontoconclude,fromthissimpleoperation,thatonemanmoreinthecountrymustnecessarilybefed,forIhavetakencaretosuppose,thatthefleshoftheanimalsisnotproperforfoodorthatanyaugmentationofagriculturemustofconsequenceensuefromthisnewtraffic。
Butletmethrowinacircumstancewhichmayimplyanadditionalconsumptionathome,andthenexaminetheconsequences。
Apoorcreature,whohasnoequivalenttoofferforfood,whoismiserable,andreadytoperishforwantofsubsistence,goesahunting,andkillsawolf;hecomestoafarmerwiththeskin,andsays;youarewellfed,butyouhavenobrandy;ifyouwillgivemealoafIwillgiveyouthisskin,whichthestrangersaresofondof,andtheywillgiveyoubrandy。But,saysthefarmer,Ihavenomorebreadthanwhatissufficientformyownfamily。
Asforthat,repliestheother,Iwillcomeanddiginyourground,andyouandIwillsettleouraccountastothesmallquantityIdesireofyou。Thebargainismade;thepoorfellowgetshisloaf,andlivesatleast;perhapshemarries,andthefarmergetsadram。Buthaditnotbeenforthisdram,thatis,thisnewwant,whichwaspurchasedbytheindustryofthispoorfellow,bywhatargumentcouldhehaveinducedthefarmertopartwithaloaf?
Ihereexcludethesentimentofcharity。Thisalone,asI
haveoftenobserved,isaprincipleofmultiplication,andifitwasadmittedhereitwouldruinallmysupposition;butastrueitis,ontheotherhand,thatcouldthepoorfellowhavegotbreadbybegging,hewouldnotprobablyhavegonea-hunting。
Herethenitappears,thattheverydawningoftrade,inthemostunpolishedcountries,impliesamultiplication。Thisisenoughtopointoutthefirststep,andtoconnectthesubjectofourpresentinquirieswithwhathasbeenalreadydiscussedinrelationtoothercircumstances。Iproceed。
Sosoonasallthefursaredisposedof,andatasteforsuperfluityintroduced,boththetradersandthenativeswillbeequallyinterestedintheadvancementofindustryinthiscountry。Manynewobjectsofprofitforthefirstwillbediscovered,whichtheproperemploymentoftheinhabitants,inreapingthenaturaladvantagesoftheirsoilandclimate,willmakeeffectual。Thetraderswillthereforeendeavourtosetonfootmanybranchesofindustryamongthesavages,andtheallurementsofbrandy,arms,andclothing,willanimatetheseinthepursuitofthem。Letmeheredigressforafewlines。
Ifwesupposeslaverytobeestablishedinthiscountry,thenalltheslaveswillbesettowork,inordertoprovidefursandotherthingsdemandedbythetraders,thatthemastersmaytherebybeenabledtoindulgethemselvesinthesuperfluitiesbroughttothembythemerchants。Whenlibertyisthesystem,everyone,accordingtohisdisposition,becomesindustrious,inordertoprocuresuchenjoymentsforhimself。
Inthefirstsupposition,itistheheadofthemasterwhichconductsthelabouroftheslave,andturnsittowardsingenuity:
inthesecond,everyheadisatwork,andeveryhandisimprovingindexterity。Wherehandsthereforeareprincipallynecessary,theslaveshavetheadvantage;whereheadsareprincipallynecessary,theadvantageliesinfavourofthefree。Setamantolabouratsomuchaday,hewillgoonataregularrate,andneverseektoimprovehismethod:lethimbehiredbythepiece,hewillfindathousandexpedientstoextendhisindustry。Thisisexactlythedifferencebetweentheslaveandthefreeman。
FromthisIaccountforthedifferencebetweentheprogressofindustryinancientandmoderntimes。Whywasapeculiumgiventoslaves,buttoengagethemtobecomedextrous?Hadtherebeennopeculiumandnolibertini,orfreemen,whohadbeentrainedtolabour,therewouldhavebeenlittlemoreindustryanywhere,thantherewasintherepublicofLycurgus,where,Iapprehend,neithertheoneortheotherwastobefound。Ireturn。
Whenoncethisrevolutionisbroughtabout;whenthosewhoformerlylivedinsimplicitybecomeindustrious。Mattersputonanewface。Isnotthisoperationquitesimilartothatrepresentedinthefifthchapterofthefirstbook?ThereIfoundthegreatestdifficulty,inshewinghowthemutualoperationsofsupplyingfoodandotherwantscouldhavetheeffectofpromotingpopulationandagriculture,amongapeoplewhoweresupposedtohavenoideaofthesystemproposedtobeputinexecution。Heretheplanappearsfamiliarandeasy。Thedifferencebetweenthemseemstoresemblethatofachild’slearningalanguagebygrammar,orlearningitbytheearinthecountrywhereitisspoken。Inthefirstcase,manythrowthebookaside,butintheothernoneeverfailofsuccess。
Ihavesaid,thatmattersputonanewface;thatistosay,wenowfindtwotradingnationsinsteadofone,withthisdifference,however,thatashithertowehavesupposedthemerchantsallinoneinterest,thecompounddemand,thatis,thecompetitionofthebuyers,hasbeen,andmuststillcontinueonthesideofthenatives。Thisisagreatprejudicetotheirinterest,butasitisnotsupposedsufficienttochecktheirindustry,nortorestraintheirconsumptionofthemanufactures,letmehereexaminealittlemoreparticularlytheconsequencesoftheprincipleofdemandinsuchasituation;foralthoughI
allow,thatitcanneverchangesides,yetitmayadmitofdifferentmodifications,andproducedifferenteffects,asweshallpresentlyperceive。
Themerchantswesupposeallinoneinterest,consequentlytherecanhenocompetitionamongthem;consequentlynocheckcanbeputupontheirraisingtheirprices,aslongasthepricestheydemandarecompliedwith。Sosoonastheyareraisedtothefullextentoftheabilitiesofthenatives,oroftheirinclinationtobuy,themerchantshavethechoiceofthreethings,whichareallperfectlyintheiroption,andthepreferencetobegiventotheoneortheotherdependsentirelyuponthemselves,anduponthecircumstancesIamgoingtopointout。
First,theymaysupportthehighdemand;thatis,notlowertheirprice;whichwillpreserveahighestimationofthemanufacturesintheopinionoftheinhabitants,andrendertheprofitsupontheirtradethegreatestpossible。Thisparttheymaypossiblytake,iftheyperceivethenativesdoublingtheirdiligence,inordertobecomeable,intime,topurchaseconsiderablecargoesatahighvalue;fromwhichsuppositionisimpliedastrongdispositioninthepeopletobecomeluxurious,sincenothingbutwantofabilitypreventsthemfromcomplyingwiththehighestdemand:butstillanothercircumstancemustconcur,toengagethemerchantsnottolowertheirprice。Thegreatproportionofthegoodstheyseekfor,inreturn,mustbefoundinthehandsofafew。Thiswillbethecaseifslaverybeestablished;forthentheremustbemanypoor,andfewrich:andtheyarecommonlytherichconsumerswhoproportionthepricetheyoffer,rathertotheirdesires,thantothevalueofthething。
Thesecondthingwhichmaybedoneis,toopenthedoortoagreatdemand;thatis,tolowertheirprices。Thiswillsinkthevalueofthemanufacturesintheopinionoftheinhabitants,andrenderprofitslessinproportion,althoughindeed,uponthevoyage,theprofitsmaybegreater。
Thisparttheywilltake,iftheyperceivetheinhabitantsdonotinclinetoconsumegreatquantitiesofthemerchandizeatahighvalue,eitherfromwantofabilitiesorinclination;andalso,iftheprofitsuponthetradedependuponalargeconsumption,asisthecaseinmerchandizeofalowvalue,andsuitedchieflytotheoccasionsofthelowersort。Suchmotivesofexpediencywillbesufficienttomakethemneglectahighdemand,andpreferagreatone;andthemore,whenthereisalikelihoodthattheconsumptionoflow-pricedgoodsinthebeginningmaybegetatasteforothersofahighervalue,andthusextendingeneralthetasteofsuperfluity。
Athirdparttobetaken,istheleastpolitic,andperhapsthemostfamiliar。Itistoprofitbythecompetitionbetweenthebuyers,andencouragetherisingofdemandaslongaspossible;
whenthiscomestoastop,tomakeakindofauction,byfirstbringingdownthepricestothelevelofthehighestbidders,andsotodescendbydegrees,inproportionasdemandsinks。Thuswemaysaywithpropriety,accordingtoourdefinitionsofdemand,thatitcommonlybecomesgreat,inproportionaspricessink。Bythisoperation,thetraderswillprofitasmuchaspossible,andselloffasmuchoftheirgoodsastheprofitswillpermit。
Isay,thisplan,inanewdiscoveredcountry,isnotpolitic,asitbothdiscoversacovetousnessandawantoffaithinthemerchants,andalsothrowsopenthesecretsoftheirtradetothosewhooughttobekeptignorantofthem。
Letmenextsuppose,thatthelargeprofitsofourmerchantsshallbediscoveredbyothers,whoarriveatthesameportsinaseparateinterest,andwhoenterintonocombinationwiththefirst,whichmightpreventthenaturaleffectsofcompetition。
Letthestateofdemandamongthenativesbesupposedthesameasformerly,bothastoheightandgreatness,inconsequenceoftheoperationofthedifferentprinciples,whichmighthaveinducedourmerchantstofollowoneorotheroftheplanswehavebeendescribing;wemusthoweverstillsuppose,thattheyhavebeencarefultopreserveconsiderableprofitsuponeverybranch。
Ifwesupposetheinhabitantstohaveincreasedinnumbers,wealth,andtasteforsuperfluity,sincethelastvoyage,demandwillbefoundratherontherisinghand。Uponthearrivalofthemerchantsincompetitionwiththeformer,bothwilloffertosale;butifbothstandtothesameprices,itisverynaturaltosuppose,thattheformerdealerswillobtainapreference;as,caterisparibus,itisalwaysanadvantagetoknowandtobeknown。Thelastcomers,therefore,havenootherwaylefttocounterbalancethisadvantage,buttolowertheirprices。
Thisisanewphaenomenon:herethefallofpricesisnotvoluntaryasformerly;notconsentedtofromexpediency;notowingtoafailureofdemand,buttotheinfluenceofanewprincipleofcommerce,towit,adoublecompetition。ThisIshallnowexaminewithallthecareIamcapableof。
Chap。VII
OfdoubleCompetitionWhencompetitionismuchstrongerononesideofthecontractthanontheother,Icallitsimple,andthenitisatermsynonimouswithwhatIhavecalledcompounddemand。Thisisthespeciesofcompetitionwhichisimpliedinthetermhighdemand,orwhenitissaid,thatdemandraisesprices。
Doublecompetitionis,when,inacertaindegree,ittakesplaceonbothsidesofthecontractatonce,orvibratesalternatelyfromonetotheother。Thisiswhatrestrainspricestotheadequatevalueofthemerchandize。
IfranklyconfessIfeelagreatwantoflanguagetoexpressmyideas,anditisforthisreasonIemploysomanyexamples,thebettertocommunicatecertaincombinationsofthem,whichotherwisewouldbeinexplicable。
Thegreatdifficultyistodistinguishclearlybetweentheprinciplesofdemand,andthoseofcompetition;herethenfollowstheprincipaldifferencesbetweenthetwo,relativelytotheeffectstheyseverelyproduceinthemercantilecontractofbuyingandselling,whichIhereexpressshortlybythewordcontract。
Simpledemandiswhatbringsthequantityofacommoditytomarket。Manydemand,whodonotbuy;manyoffer,whodonotsell。
Thisdemandiscalledgreatorsmall;itissaidtoincrease,toaugmenttoswell;andisexpressedbytheseandothersynonimousterms,whichmarkanaugmentationordiminutionofquantity。Inthisspecies,twopeopleneverdemandthesamething,butapartofthesamething,orthingsquitealike。
Compounddemandistheprinciplewhichraisesprices,andnevercanmakethemsink;becauseinthiscasemorethanonedemandstheverysamething。Itissolelyapplicabletothebuyers,inrelationtothepricetheyoffer。Thisdemandiscalledhighorlow,andissaidtorise,tofall,tomount,tosink,andisexpressedbytheseandothersynonimousterms。
Simplecompetition,whenbetweenbuyers,isthesameascompoundorhighdemand,butdiffersfromitsofar,asthismayequallytakeplaceamongsellers,whichcompounddemandcannot,andthenitworksacontraryeffect:itmakespricessink,andissynonimouswithlowdemand:itisthiscompetitionwhichoverturnsthebalanceofworkanddemand;ofwhichafterwards。
Doublecompetitioniswhatisunderstoodtotakeplaceinalmosteveryoperationoftrade;itisthiswhichpreventstheexcessiveriseofprices;itisthiswhichpreventstheirexcessivefall。Whiledoublecompetitionprevails,thebalanceisperfect,tradeandindustryflourish。
Thecapitaldistinction,therefore,betweenthetermsdemandandcompetitionis,thatdemandisconstantlyrelativetothebuyers,andwhenmoneyisnottheprice,asinbarter,thenitisrelativetothatsideuponwhichthegreatestcompetitionisfound。
Wethereforesay,withregardtoprices,demandishighorlow。Withregardtothequantityofmerchandize,demandisgreatorsmall。Withregardtocompetition,itisalwayscalledgreatorsmall,strongorweak。
Competition,Ihavesaid,is,withequalpropriety,applicabletobothpartiesinthecontract。Acompetitionamongbuyersisaproperexpression:acompetitionamongsellers,whohavethemerchandize,isfullaseasilyunderstood,thoughitbenotquitesostriking,forreasonswhichanexamplewillmakeplain。
Youcometoafairwhereyoufindagreatvarietyofeverykindofmerchandize,inthepossessionofdifferentmerchants。
These,byofferingtheirgoodstosale,constituteatacitcompetition;everyoneofthemwishestosellinpreferencetoanother,andatthesametimewiththebestadvantagetohimself。
Thebuyersbegin,bycheapningateveryshop。Thefirstpriceaskedmarksthecovetousnessoftheseller;thefirstpriceoffered,thatofthebuyer。Fromthisoperation,Isay,competitionbeginstoworkitseffectsonbothsides,andsobecomesdouble。Theprincipleswhichinfluencethisoperationarenowtobededuced。
Itisimpossibletosupposethesamedegreeofeagerness,eithertobuyortosell,amongseveralmerchants;becausethedegreeofeagernessItaketobeexactlyinproportiontotheirviewofprofit;andasthismustnecessarilybeinfluencedandregulatedbydifferentcircumstances,thatbuyer,whohasthebestprospectofsellingagainwithprofit,obligeshim,whoseprospectisnotsogood,tocontenthimselfwithless;andthatseller,whohasboughttothebestadvantage,obligeshim,whohaspaiddearerforthemerchandize,tomoderatehisdesireofgain。
Itisfromtheseprinciples,thatcompetitionamongbuyersandsellersmusttakeplace。Thisiswhatconfinesthefluctuationofpriceswithinlimitswhicharecompatiblewiththereasonableprofitsofbothbuyersandsellers;for,ashasbeensaid,intreatingoftrade,wemustconstantlysupposethewholeoperationofbuyingandsellingtobeperformedbymerchants;thebuyercannotbesupposedtogivesohighapriceasthatwhichheexpectstoreceive,whenhedistributestotheconsumers,norcanthesellerbesupposedtoacceptofonesolowasthatwhichhepaidtothemanufacturer。Thiscompetitionisproperlycalleddouble,becauseofthedifficultytodetermineuponwhichsideitstands;thesamemerchantmayhaveitinhisfavouruponcertainarticles,andagainsthimuponothers;itiscontinuallyinvibration,andthearrivalofeverypostmaylessormorepulldowntheheavyscale。
Ineverytransactionbetweenmerchants,theprofitresultingfromthesalemustbeexactlydistinguishedfromthevalueofthemerchandize。Thefirstmayvary,thelastnevercan。Itisthisprofitalonewhichcanbeinfluencedbycompetition;anditisforthisreasonwefindsuchuniformityeverywhereinthepricesofgoodsofthesamequality。
Thecompetitionbetweensellersdoesnotappearsostriking,asthatbetweenbuyers;becausehewhoofferstosale,appearspassiveonlyinthefirstoperation;whereasthebuyerspresentthemselvesoneafteranother;theymakeademand,andwhenthemerchandizeisrefusedtooneatacertainprice,asecondeitheroffersmore,ordoesnotofferatall:butsosoonasanothersellerfindshisaccountinacceptingthepricethefirsthadrefused,thenthefirstentersintocompetition,providedhisprofitswilladmithisloweringthefirstprice;andthuscompetitiontakesplaceamongthesellers,untiltheprofitsupontheirtradepreventpricesfromfallinglower。
Inallmarkets,Ihavesaid,thiscompetitionisvarying,thoughinsensibly,onmanyoccasions;butinothers,thevibrationsareveryperceptible。Sometimesitisfoundstrongestonthesideofthebuyers,andinproportionasthisgrows,thecompetitionbetweenthesellersdiminishes。Whenthecompetitionbetweentheformerhasraisedpricestoacertainstandard,itcomestoastop;thenthecompetitionchangessides,andtakesplaceamongthesellers,eagertoprofitofthehighestprice。
Thismakespricesfall,andaccordingastheyfall,thecompetitionamongthebuyersdiminishes。Theystillwaitforthelowestperiod。Atlastitcomes;andthenperhapssomenewcircumstance,bygivingthebalanceakick,disappointstheirhopes。Ifthereforeiteverhappens,thatthereisbutoneinterestupononesideofthecontract,asintheexampleintheformerchapter,wherewesupposedthesellersunited,youperceive,thattheriseoftheprice,occasionedbythecompetitionofthebuyers,andevenitscomingtoastop,couldnotpossiblyhavetheeffectofproducinganycompetitionontheotherside;andtherefore,ifpricescomeafterwardstosink,thefallmusthaveproceededfromtheprudentialconsiderationsofadaptingthepricetothefacultiesofthose,who,fromtheheightofit,hadwithdrawntheirdemand。
Fromtheseprinciplesofcompetition,theforestallingofmarketsismadeacrime,becauseitdiminishesthecompetitionwhichoughttotakeplacebetweendifferentpeople,whohavethesamemerchandizetooffertosale。Theforestallerbuysallup,withanintentiontosellwithmoreprofit,ashehasbythatmeanstakenothercompetitorsoutoftheway,andappearswithasingleinterestononesideofthecontract,inthefaceofmanycompetitorsontheother。Thispersonispunishedbythestate,becausehehaspreventedthepriceofthemerchandizefrombecomingjustlyproportionedtotherealvalue;hehasrobbedthepublic,andenrichedhimself;andinthepunishment,hemakesrestitution。Hereoccurtwoquestionstoberesolved,forthesakeofillustration。
Cancompetitionamongbuyerspossiblytakeplace,whentheprovisionmadeismorethansufficienttosupplythequantitydemanded?Ontheotherhand,cancompetitiontakeplaceamongthesellers,whenthequantitydemandedexceedsthetotalprovisionmadeforit?
Ithinkitmayinbothcases;becauseintheoneandtheother,thereisacompetitionimpliedononesideofthecontract,andtheverynatureofthiscompetitionimpliesapossibilityofitscomingontheother,providedseparateinterestsbefounduponbothsides。But,tobemoreparticular:
First,Experienceshews,thathoweverjustlytheproportionbetweenthedemandandthesupplymaybedeterminedinfact,itisstillnexttoimpossibletodiscoveritexactly,andthereforebuyerscanonlyregulatethepricestheyoffer,bywhattheymayreasonablyexpecttosellforagain。Thesellers,ontheotherhand,canonlyregulatethepricestheyexpect,bywhatthemerchandizehascostthemwhenbroughttomarket。Wehavealreadyshewn,how,undersuchcircumstances,theseveralinterestsofindividualsaffecteachother,andmakethebalancevibrate。
Secondly,Theproportionbetweenthesupplyandthedemandisseldomotherthanrelativeamongmerchants,whoaresupposedtobuyandsell,notfromnecessity,butfromaviewtoprofit。WhatImeanbyrelativeis,thattheirdemandisgreatorsmall,accordingtoprices:theremaybeagreatdemandforgrainat35
shillingsperquarter,andnodemandatallforitat40
shillings,Isay,amongmerchants。
HereImustobserve,howessentialitis,toattendtothesmallestcircumstanceinmattersofthiskind。ThecircumstanceI
herehaveinmyeye,isthedifferenceIfindintheeffectofcompetition,whenittakesplacepurelyamongmerchantsonbothsidesofthecontract,andwhenithappens,thateithertheconsumersminglethemselveswiththemerchant-buyers,orthemanufacturers,thatis,thefurnishersminglethemselveswiththemerchant-sellers。ThiscombinationIshallillustrate,bythesolutionofanotherquestion,andthenconcludemychapterwithafewreflectionsuponthewhole。
Cantherebenocaseformed,wherethecompetitionupononesidemaysubsist,withoutapossibilityofitstakingplaceontheother,althoughthereshouldbeseparateinterestsuponboth?
Ianswer。Thecaseishardlysupposableamongmerchantswhobuyandsellwithaviewtoprofit;butitisabsolutelysupposable,andthatisall,whenthedirectconsumersarethebuyers;whenthecircumstancesofoneofthepartiesisperfectlyknown;andwhenthecompetitionissostrongupononeside,astopreventapossibilityofitsbecomingdouble,beforethewholeprovisionissoldoff,orthedemandsatisfied。Letmehaverecoursetoexamples。
Grainarrivinginasmallquantity,ataportwheretheinhabitantsarestarving,producessogreatacompetitionamongtheconsumers,whoarethebuyers,thattheirnecessitybecomesevident;allthegrainisgenerallyboughtupbeforepricescanrisesohighastocometoastop;becausenothingbutwantofmoney,thatis,animpossibilityofcomplyingwiththepricesdemandedbythemerchants,canrestrainthem:butifyousuppose,evenhere,thatpricescomenaturallytoastop;orthat,aftersometime,theyfalllower,fromprudentialconsiderations,thenthereisapossibilityofacompetitiontakingplaceamongthesellers,fromtheprinciplesabovededuced。If,onthecontrary,thestopisnotnatural,butoccasionedbytheinterpositionofthemagistrate,fromhumanity,orthelike,therewillbenocompetition,becausethentheprinciplesofcommercearesuspended;thesellersarerestrainedononeside,andtheyrestrainthebuyersontheother。Orrather,indeed,itisthemagistrate,orcompassion,whoinamannerfixestheprice,andperformstheofficeofbothbuyerandseller。
Abetterexamplestillmaybefound,inacompetitionamongsellers;whereitmaybesostrong,astorenderacommodityinamannerofnovalueatall,asinthecaseofanuncommonandunexpecteddraughtoffish,inaplaceofsmallconsumption,whennopreparationshavebeenmadeforsaltingthem。Therecanthenbenocompetitionamongthebuyers;becausethemarketcannotlast,andtheyfindthemselvesentirelymasters,togivewhatpricetheyplease,beingsurethesellersmustacceptofit,orlosetheirmerchandize。Inthefirstexample,humanitycommonlystopstheactivityoftheprincipleofcompetition;intheotheritisstoptbyacertaindegreeoffair-dealing,whichforbidstheacceptingofamerchandizefornothing。
Inproportionthereforeastherisingofpricescanstopdemand,orthesinkingofpricescanincreaseit,inthesameproportionwillcompetitionpreventeithertheriseorthefallfrombeingcarriedbeyondacertainlength:andifsuchacasecanbeput,wheretherisingofpricescannotstopdemand,northeloweringofpricesaugmentit,insuchcasesdoublecompetitiondoesnotsubsist;becausethesecircumstancesunitethemostseparateinterestsofbuyersandsellersinthemercantilecontract,andwhenupononesidethereisnoseparateinterest,therecanthenbenocompetition。
Fromwhathasbeensaid,wemayformajudgmentofthevariousdegreesofcompetition。Abooknotworthashilling,afishofafewpoundsweight,areoftensoldforconsiderablesums。Thebuyersherearenotmerchants。Whenanambassadorleavesacourtinahurry,hiseffectsaresoldforlessthanthehalfoftheirvalue:heisnomerchant,andhissituationisknown。When,atapublicmarket,therearefoundconsumers,whobuytheirprovision,ormanufacturers,whodisposeoftheirgoodsforpresentsubsistence;themerchants,whoarerespectivelyupontheoppositesideofthecontracttothese,profitoftheircompetition;andthosewhoarerespectivelyuponthesamesidewiththem,standbywithpatience,untiltheyhavefinishedtheirbusiness。Thenmatterscometobecarriedonbetweenmerchantandmerchant,andthen,Iallow,thatprofitsmayriseandfall,intheproportionofquantitytodemand;thatistosay,iftheprovisionislessthanthedemand,thecompetitionamongthedemanders,ortheriseoftheprice,willbeinthecompoundproportionofthefallingshortofthecommodity,andoftheprospectofsellingagainwithprofit。Itisthisproportionwhichregulatesthecompetition,andkeepsitwithinbounds。Itcanaffecttheprofitsonlyuponthetransaction;theintrinsicvalueofthecommoditystandsimmoveable:nothingiseversoldbelowtherealvalue;nothingiseverboughtformorethanitmayprobablybring。Imeaningeneral。Whereassosoonasconsumersandneedymanufacturersmingleintheoperation,allproportionislost。Thecompetitionbetweenthemistoostrongforthemerchants;thebalancevibratesbyjerks。Insuchmarketsmerchantsseldomappear:theprincipalobjectsthere,arethefruitsandproductionsoftheearth,andarticlesofthefirstnecessityforlife,notmanufacturesstrictlysocalled。Apoorfellowoftensells,topurchasebreadtoeat;nottopaywhathedideat,whilehewasemployedintheworkhedisposesof。Theconsumeroftenmeasuresthevalueofwhatheisabouttopurchase,bytheweightofhispurse,andhisdesiretoconsume。
Asthesedistinctionscannotbeconveyedinthetermsbywhichweareobligedtoexpressthem,andastheymustfrequentlybeimplied,intreatingofmattersrelatingtotradeandindustry,Ithoughtthebestwaywas,toclearupmyownideasconcerningthem,andtolaytheminorderbeforemyreader,beforeIenteredfartherintomysubject。
Alldifferenceofopinionuponmattersofthisnatureproceeds,asIbelieve,fromourlanguagebeinginadequatetoexpressourideas;fromourinattentioninusingterms,whichappearsynonimous,andarenotso;andfromournaturalpropensitytoinclude,undergeneralrules,thingswhichuponsomeoccasions,commonreasonrequirestobesetasunder。