Wehavealreadyseenthattheprofitoncapitalisinproportiontoitssize.Ifweignoredeliberatecompetitionforthemoment,alargecapitalaccumulatesmorerapidly,inproportiontoitssize,thandoesasmallcapital.
Thismeansthat,quiteapartfromcompetition,theaccumulationoflargecapitaltakesplaceatamuchfasterratethanthatofsmallcapital.
But,letusfollowthisprocessfurther.
Ascapitalsmultiply,theprofitsoncapitaldiminish,asaresultofcompetition.So,thefirsttosufferisthesmallcapitalist.
"Inacountrywhichhadacquireditsfullcomplementofriches,astheordinaryrateofclearprofitwouldbeverysmall,sotheusualmarketrateofinterestwhichcouldbeaffordedoutofitwouldbesolowastorenderitimpossibleforanybuttheverywealthiestofpeopletoliveupontheinterestoftheirmoney.Allpeopleofsmallormiddlingfortuneswouldbeobligedtosuper—intendthemselvestheemploymentoftheirownstocks.Itwouldbenecessarythatalmosteverymanshouldbeamanofbusiness,orengageinsomesortoftrade."
[SmithI,p.86]Thisisthesituationmostdeartotheheartofpoliticaleconomy.
"Theproportionbetweencapitalandrevenue,therefore,seemseverywheretoregulatetheproportionbetweenindustryandidleness.Wherevercapitalpredominates,industryprevails:
whereverrevenue,idleness."
[Smith,p.301]But,whatabouttheemploymentofcapitalinthisincreasedcompetition?
"Asthequantityofstocktobelentatinterestincreases,theinterest,orthepricewhichmustbepaidfortheuseofthatstock,necessarilydiminishes,notonlyfromthosegeneralcauses,whichmakethemarketpriceofthingscommonlydiminishastheirquantityincreases,butfromothercauseswhicharepeculiartothisparticularcase.
"Ascapitalsincreaseinanycountry,theprofitswhichcanbemadebyemployingthemnecessarilydiminish.Itbecomesgraduallymoreandmoredifficulttofindwithinthecountryaprofitablemethodofemployinganynewcapital.Therearises,inconsequence,acompetitionbetweendifferentcapitals,theownerofoneendeavoringtogetpossessionofthatemploymentwhichisoccupiedbyanother.
"But,onmostoccassionshecanhopetojostlethatotheroutofthisemploymentbynoothermeansbutbydealinguponmorereasonableterms.Hemustnotonlysellwhathedealsinsomewhatcheaper,but,inordertogetittosell,hemustsometimes,too,buyitdearer.
"Thedemandforproductivelabor,bytheincreaseofthefundswhicharedestinedformaintainingit,growseverydaygreaterandgreater.Laborerseasilyfindemployment,buttheownersofcapitalsfinditdifficulttogetlaborerstoemploy.Theircompetitionraisesthewagesoflaborandsinkstheprofitsofstock."
[Smithp.316]Thesmallcapitalist,therefore,hastwochoices:hecaneitherconsumehiscapital,sincehecannolongerliveontheinterest——i.e.,ceasetobeacapitalist;or,hecanhimselfsetupabusiness,sellhisgoodsatalowerprice,andbuythematadearerpricethantherichercapitalist,andpayhigherwages,whichmeansthathewouldgobankrupt——sincethemarketpriceisalreadyverylowasaresultoftheintensecompetitionwepresupposed.If,ontheotherhand,thebigcapitalistwantstosqueezeoutthesmallerone,hehasallthesameadvantagesoverhimasthecapitalisthasovertheworker.Heiscompensatedforthesmallerprofitsbythelargersizeofhiscapital,andhecanevenputupwithshort—termlossesuntilthesmallercapitalistisruinedandheisfreedofthiscompetition.Inthisway,heaccumulatestheprofitsofthesmallcapitalist.
Furthermore:thebigcapitalistalwaysbuysmorecheaplythanthesmallcapitalist,becausehebuysinlargerquantities.Hecan,therefore,affordtosellatalowerprice.
But,ifafallintherateofinterestturnsthemiddlecapitalistsfromrentiersintobusinessmen,converselytheincreaseinbusinesscapitalsandtheresultinglowerrateofprofitproduceafallintherateofinterest.
"But,whentheprofitswhichcanbemadebyuseofacapitalarediminishedthepricewhichcanbepaidfortheuseofit
mustnecessarilybediminishedwiththem."
[Smithp.316]
"Asriches,improvement,andpopulation,haveincreased,interesthasdeclined",andconsequentlytheprofitsofstock;"afterthesearediminished,stockmaynotonlycontinuetoincrease,buttoincreasemuchfasterthanbeforeAgreatstock,thoughwithsmallprofits,generallyincreasesfasterthanasmallstockwithgreatprofits.Money,saystheproverb,makesmoney."
[Smithp.83]So,ifthislargecapitalisopposedbysmallcapitalswithsmallprofits,asinthecaseundertheconditionsofintensecompetitionwhichwehavepresupposed,itcrushesthemcompletely.
Theinevitableconsequenceofthiscompetitionisthedeteriorationinthequalityofgoods,adulteration,spuriousproduction,anduniversalpollutiontobefoundinlargetowns.
Anotherimportantfactorinthecompetitionbetweenbigandsmallcapitalsistherelationshipbetweenfixedcapitalandcirculatingcapital.
Circulatingcapitaliscapital"employedinraising,manufacturing,orpurchasinggoods,andsellingthemagainataprofit.Thecapitalemployedinthismanneryieldsnorevenueorprofittoitsemployer,whileiteitherremainsinhispossessionorcontinuesinthesameshapeHiscapitaliscontinuallygoingfromhiminoneshape,andreturningtohiminanother,anditisonlybymeansofsuchcirculation,orsuccessiveexchanges,thatiscanyieldhimanyprofit"Fixedcapitaliscapital"employedintheimprovementofland,inthepurchaseofusefulmachinesandinstruments,orinsuchlikethings
"everysavingintheexpenseofsupportingthefixedcapitaloftheundertakerofeveryworkisnecessarilydividedbetweenhisfixedandhiscirculatingcapital.Whilehiswholecapitalremainsthesame,thesmallertheonepart,thegreatermustnecessarilybetheother.Itisthecirculatingcapitalwhichfurnishesthematerialsandwagesoflabor,andputsindustryintomotion.Everysaving,therefore,intheexpenseofmaintainingthefixedcapital,whichdoesnotdiminishtheproductivepowersoflabor,mustincreasethefundwhichputsindustryintomotion"
[Smith,p.257]Itisimmediatelyclearthattherelationbetweenfixedcapitalandcirculatingcapitalismuchmorefavorabletothebigcapitalistthanitistothesmallercapitalist.Thedifferenceinvolumebetweentheamountoffixedcapitalneededbyaverybigbankerandtheamountneededbyaverysmalloneisinsignificant.Theonlyfixedcapitaltheyneedisanoffice.Theequipmentneededbyabiglandownerdoesnotincreaseinproportiontotheextentofhisland.Similarly,theamountofcreditavailabletoabigcapitalist,comparedwithasmallerone,representsabiggersavinginfixedcapital——namely,intheamountofmoneywhichhemusthaveavailableatalltimes.Finally,itgoeswithoutsayingthatwhereindustriallaborishighlydeveloped——i.e.,wherealmostallmanualcraftshavebecomefactorylabor——theentirecapitalofthesmallcapitalistisnotenoughtoprocureforhimeventhenecessaryfixedcapital.Itiswellknownthatlarge—scale[agricultural]cultivationgenerallyrequiresonlyasmallnumberofhands.
Theaccumulationoflargecapitalsisgenerallyaccompaniedbyaconcentrationandsimplificationoffixedcapital,ascomparedwiththesmallercapitalists.Thebigcapitalistestablishesforhimselfsomekindoforganizationoftheinstrumentsoflabor.
"Similarly,inthesphereofindustryeveryfactoryandeveryworkshopisamorecomprehensivecombinationofalargermaterialpropertywithnumerousandvariedintellectualabilitiesandtechnicalskillswhichhaveastheirsharedaimthedevelopmentofproductionWherelegislationpreservestheunityoflargelandedproperties,thesurplusquantityofagrowingpopulationcrowdstogetherintoindustry,anditisthereforemainlyinindustrythattheproletariatgathersinlargenumbers,asinGreatBritain.But,wherelegislationallowsthecontinuousdivisionoftheland,asinFrance,thenumberofsmall,debt—riddenproprietorsincreasesandmanyofthemareforcedintotheclassoftheneedyandthediscontented.Shouldthisdivisionandindebtednessgofarenough,inthesamewayasbigindustrydestroyssmallindustry;andsincelargerlandholdingcomplexesoncemorecomeintobeing,manypropertylessworkersnolongerneededonthelandare,inthiscasetoo,forcedintoindustry."
[Schulz,pp.58—9]
"Thecharacterofcommoditiesofthesamesortchangesasaresultofchangesinthenatureofproduction,andinparticularasaresultofmechanization.Onlybyeliminatinghumanlaborhasitbecomepossibletospinfromapoundofcottonworth3s.8d.,350
hanksworth25guineasand167milesinlength."
[Schulz,p.62]
"Onaverage,thepricesofcottongoodshavefallenby11/12thsoverthepast45years,andaccordingtoMarshall’scalculationsaquantityofmanufacturecosting16s.in1814nowcost1s.10d.Thedropinpricesofindustrialproductshasmeantbothariseinhomeconsumptionandanincreaseintheforeignmarket;asaresult,thenumberofcottonworkersinGreatBritainnotonlydidnotfallaftertheintroductionofmachinery,butrosefrom40,000to1.5
million.Asfortheearningsofindustrialemployersandworkers,thegrowingcompetitionamongfactoryownershasinevitablyresultedinadropinprofitsinproportiontothequantityofproducts.Between1820and1833,thegrossprofitmadebyManchestermanufacturersonapieceofcalicofellfrom4s.1.5d.
to1s.9d.But,tomakeupforthisloss,therateofproductionhasbeencorrespondinglyincreased.Theconsequenceisthattherehavebeeninstancesofoverproductioninsomebranchesofindustry;
thattherearefrequentbankruptcies,whichcreatefluctuationsofpropertywithintheclassofcapitalistsandmastersoflabor,andforceanumberofthosewhohavebeenruinedeconomicallyintotheranksoftheproletariat;andthatfrequentandsuddenrestrictioninemploymentamongtheclassofwage—earners."
[Schulz,p.63]
"Tohireoutone’slaboristobeginone’senslavement;tohireoutthematerialsoflaboristoachieveone’sfreedomLaborisman,whilemattercontainsnothinghuman."
[Pecqueur,pp.411—12]
"Theelementofmatter,whichcandonothingtocreatewealthwithouttheelementoflabor,acquiresthemagicalpropertyofbeingfruitfulforthem[thatis,forthepropertyowners],asiftheythemselveshadprovidedthisindispensableelement."
[Pecqueur,p.412]
"Ifweassumethataworkercanearnanaverageof400francsayearfromhisdailylabor,andthatthissumissufficientforoneadulttoekeoutaliving,thenanyonewhoreceives2,000francsininterestorrentisindirectlyforcing5mentoworkforhim;anincomeof100,000francsrepresentsthelaborof250men;and1,000,000francsthelaborof2,500(300million——LouisPhilippe——thereforerepresentsthelaborof750,000workers)."
[Pecqueur,pp.412—13]
"Thepropertyownershavereceivedfromhumanlawtherighttouseandabusethematerialsofalllabor——i.e.,todoastheywishwiththemThereisnolawwhichobligesthempunctuallyandatalltimetoprovideworkforthosewhodonotownpropertyortopaythemawagewhichisatalltimesadequate,etc."
[Pecqueur,p.413]
"Completefreedomastothenature,thequantity,thequality,andtheappropriatenessofproduction,theuseandconsumptionofwealthandthedisposalofthematerialsofalllabor.Everyoneisfreetoexchangehispossessionsashechooses,withoutanyotherconsiderationthanhisowninterestasanindividual."
[Pecqueur,p.413]
"Competitionissimplyanexpressionoffreeexchange,whichisitselftheimmediateandlogicalconsequenceoftherightofanyindividualtouseandabuseallinstrumentsofproduction.Thesethreeeconomicmoments,whichareinrealityonlyone——therighttouseandabuse,freedomofexchangeandunrestrictedcompetition——havethefollowingconsequences:eachproduceswhathewants,howhewants,whenhewants,wherehewants;heproduceswellorheproducesbadly,toomuchornotenough,toolateortooearly,toodearortoocheap;nooneknowswhetherhewillsell,towhomhewillsell,howhewillsell,whenhewillsell,wherehewillsell;
thesamegoesforbuying.Theproducerisacquaintedwithneithertheneedsnortheresources,neitherthedemandnorthesupply.Hesellswhenhewants,thenhecan,wherehewants,towhomhewantsandatthepricehewants.Thesamegoesforbuying.Inallthisheisatalltimestheplaythingofchance,theslaveofthelawofthestrongest,oftheleastpressed,oftherichestWhileatonepointthereisashortageofwealth,atanotherthereisasurfeitandsquanderingofthesame.Whileoneproducersellsagreatdeal,orathighpricesandwithanenormousprofit,anothersellsnothingorsellsatalossSupplyisignorantofdemand,anddemandisignorantofsupply.Youproduceonthebasisofapreferenceorafashionprevalentamongtheconsumingpublic;butbythetimeyouarepreparingtoputyourcommodityonthemarket,themoodhaspassedandsomeotherkindofproducthascomeintofashionTheinevitableconsequencesarecontinualandspreadingbankruptcies,miscalculations,suddencollapses,andunexpectedfortunes;tradecrises,unemployment,periodicsurfeitsandshortages;instabilityanddeclineofwagesandprofits;thelossorenormouswasteofwealth,oftime,andofeffortinthearenaoffiercecompetition."
[Pecqueur,p.414—16]Ricardoinhisbook[OnthePrinciplesofPoliticalEconomyetal]
(rentofland):Nationsaremerelyworkshopsforproduction,andmanisamachineforconsumingandproducing.Humanlifeisapieceofcapital.
Economiclawsruletheworldblindly.ForRicardo,menarenothing,theproducteverything.InChapter26,oftheFrenchtranslation,weread:
"Toanindividualwithacapitalof20,000pounds,whoseprofitswere2,000perannum,itwouldbeamatterquiteindifferentwhetherhiscapitalwouldemployahundredorathousandmenisnottherealinterestofthenationsimilar?Provideditsnetrealincome,itsrentsandprofits,bethesame,itisofnoimportancewhetherthenationconsistsof10or12millioninhabitants."
[Ricardo,pp.234—5]
"Intruth,"saysM.deSismondi,"itremainsonlytodesirethattheking,whohasbeenleftquitealoneontheisland,should,bycontinuouslycrankingupanumberofautomatons,getallEngland’sworkdone."
[J.C.L.SimondedeSismondi,Nouveauxprincipesd’economicpolitique,2volumes,Paris,1819,II,p.331]
"Themasterwhobuysaworker’slaboratapricesolowthatitisbarelyenoughtomeethismostpressingneedsisresponsibleneitherforthelowwagesnorthelonghoursofwork:hehimselfissubjecttothelawwhichheimposesMiseryistheproductnotsomuchofmenasofthepowerofthings."
[Buret,I,p.82]
"TheinhabitantsofmanydifferentpartsofGreatBritainhavenotcapitalsufficienttoimproveandcultivatealltheirlands.ThewoolofthesoutherncountiesofScotlandis,agreatpartofit,afteralonglandcarriagethroughverybadroads,manufacturedinYorkshire,forwantofcapitaltomanufactureitathome.TherearemanylittlemanufacturingtownsinGreatBritain,ofwhichtheinhabitantshavenotcapitalsufficienttotransporttheproduceoftheirownindustrytothosedistantmarketswherethereisdemandandconsumptionforit.Ifthereareanymerchantsamongthem,theyareproperlyonlytheagentsofwealthiermerchantswhoresideinsomeofthegreatercommercialcities."
[Smith,I,pp.326—7]
"Theannualproduceofthelandandlaborofanynationcanbeincreasedinitsvaluebynoothermeansbutbyincreasingeitherthenumberofitsproductivelaborers,ortheproductivepowersofthoselaborerswhohadbeforebeenemployedIneithercase,anadditionalcapitalisalmostalwaysrequired."
[Smith,I,pp.306—7]
"Astheaccumulationofstockmust,inthenatureofthings,previoustothedivisionoflabor,solaborcanbemoreandmoresubdividedinproportiononlyasstockispreviouslymoreandmoreaccumulated.Thequantityofmaterialswhichthesamenumberofpeoplecanworkup,increasesinagreatproportionaslaborcomestobemoreandmoresubdivided;andastheoperationsofeachworkmanaregraduallyreducedtoagreaterdegreeofsimplicity,avarietyofnewmachinescometobeinventedforfacilitatingandabridgingtheseoperations.Asthedivisionoflaboradvances,therefore,inordertogiveconstantemploymenttoanequalnumberofworkmen,anequalstockofprovisions,andagreaterstockofmaterialsandtoolsthanwhatwouldhavebeennecessaryinaruderstateofthings,mustbeaccumulatedbeforehand.Butthenumberofworkmenineverybranchofbusinessgenerallyincreaseswiththedivisionoflaborinthatbranch,orratheritistheincreaseoftheirnumberwhichenablesthemtoclassandsubdividethemselvesinthismanner."
[Smith,I,pp.241—2]
"Astheaccumulationofstockispreviouslynecessaryforcarryingonthisgreatimprovementintheproductivepowersoflabor,sothataccumulationnaturallyleadstothisimprovement.Thepersonwhoemployshisstockinmaintaininglabor,necessarilywishestoemployitinsuchamannerastoproduceasgreataquantityofworkaspossible.Heendeavors,therefore,bothtomakeamonghisworkmenthemostproperdistributionofemployment,andtofurnishthemwiththebestmachineswhichhecaneitherinventoraffordtopurchase.Hisabilitiesinboththeserespectsaregenerallyinproportiontotheextentofhisstock,ortothenumberofpeopleitcanemploy.Thequantityofindustry,therefore,notonlyincreasesineverycountrywiththeincreaseofthestockwhichemploysit,but,inconsequenceofthatincrease,thesamequantityofindustryproducesamuchgreaterquantityofwork."
[Smith,I,p.242]Henceoverproduction.
"Moreextensivecombinationsofproductiveforcesintradeandindustrythroughtheunificationofmorenumerousandmorevariedhumanandnaturalforcesforundertakingsonalargerscale.Also,therearealreadyanumberofcasesofcloserlinksamongthemainbranchesofproductionthemselves.Thus,largemanufacturerswilltrytoacquirelargeestatesinordertoavoiddependingonothersforatleastapartoftherawmaterialstheyneedfortheirindustry;ortheywillsetupatradingconcernlinkedtotheirindustrialenterprisesandnotonlyselltheirownproductsbutbuyupandretailothersortsofgoodstotheirworkers.InEngland,wheretherearesomefactoryownerswhoemploybetween10—and12,000workerssimilarcombinationsofdifferentbranchesofproductionunderthecontrolofoneman,smallstatesorprovinceswithinastate,arenotuncommon.Forexample,themine—ownersnearBirminghamrecentlytookovertheentireprocessofironproduction,whichwaspreviouslyinthehandsofseveraldifferententrepreneursandowners.See’DerbergannischeDistriktbeiBirmingham’,DeutscheVierteljahrsschrift,no.3,1838.
Finally,inthelargerjoint—stockcompanies,whichhavebecomesonumerous,wefindextensivecombinationsofthefinancialresourcesofmanyshareholderswiththescientificandtechnicalknowledgeandskillsofotherstowhomtheexecutionoftheworkisentrusted.Inthisway,itispossibleformanycapitaliststoapplytheirsavingsinamorediversifiedwayandeveninvestthemsimultaneouslyinagricultural,industrial,andcommercialproduction;asaresult,theirinterestsalsobecomemorediversifiedandtheconflictbetweenagricultural,industrial,andcommercialinterestsbeginstofadeaway.Butthegreatereasewithwhichcapitalcanbeemployedfruitfullyinthemostvariedfieldsinevitablyincreasestheconflictbetweenthepropertiedandthepropertylessclasses."
[Schulz,pp.241—2]Theenormousprofitwhichthelandlordsmakeoutofmisery.Thegreaterthemiserycausedbyindustry,thehighertherent.
Itisthesamewiththerateofinterestonthevicesoftheproletariat.
(Prostitution,drinking,thepawnbroker.)
Theaccumulationofcapitalsincreasesandthecompetitionbetweenthemdiminishes,ascapitalandlandedpropertyareunitedtogetherinonehandandcapitalisenabled,becauseofitssize,tocombinedifferentbranchesofproduction.
Indifferencetowardsmen.Smith’s20lotterytickets.[Smith,I,p.94]
Say’snetandgrossrevenue.
RENTOFLAND
Therightofthelandownerscanbetracedbacktorobbery.[Say,I,p.136,n.2]Landowners,likeallothermen,lovetoreapwheretheyneversowed,anddemandarentevenforthenaturalproduceoftheland.[Smith,I,p.44]
"Therentofland,itmaybethought,isfrequentlynomorethanareasonableprofitorinterestforthestocklaidoutbythelandlorduponitsimprovement.This,nodoubt,maybepartlythecaseuponsomeoccassionsThelandlorddemandsarentevenforunimprovedland,andthesupposedinterestorprofitupontheexpenseofimprovementisgenerallyanadditiontothisoriginalrent.Thoseimprovements,besides,arenotalwaysmadebythestockofthelandlord,butsometimesbythatofthetenant.Whentheleasecomestoberenewed,however,thelandlordcommonlydemandsthesameaugmentationofrentasiftheyhadbeenallmadebyhisown.
"Hesometimesdemandsrentsforwhatisaltogetherincapableofhumanimprovements."
[Smith,I,p.131]Smithgivesasanexampleofthislastcase,kelp,aspeciesofseaweedwhich,whenburnt,yieldsanalkalinesaltusefulformakingglass,soap,etc.ItgrowsinseveralpartsofGreatBritain,especiallyinScotland,butonlyuponsuchrocksasliewithinthehighwatermark,whicharetwiceeverydaycoveredwiththeseaandofwhichtheproduce,therefore,wasneveraugmentedbyhumanindustry.Thelandlord,however,whoseestateisboundedbyakelpshoreofthiskind,demandsarentforitasmuchasforhiscornfields.TheseaintheneighborhoodoftheislandsofShetlandismorethancommonlyabundantinfish,whichmakeagreatpartofthesubsistenceoftheirinhabitants.Butinordertoprofitbytheproduceofthewater,theymusthaveahabitationontheneighboringland.Therentofthelandlordisinproportion,nottowhatthefarmercanmakebytheland,butbywhathecanmakebothbythelandandbythewater.
"Thisrentmaybeconsideredastheproduceofthosepower,theuseofwhichthelandlordlendstothefarmer.Itisgreaterorsmalleraccordingtothesupposedextentofthosepowers,orinotherwords,accordingtothesupposednaturalofimprovedfertilityoftheland.Itistheworkofnaturewhichremainsafterdeductingorcompensationeverythingwhichcanberegardedastheworkofman."
[Smith,I,pp.324—5]
"Therentofland,therefore,consideredasthepricepaidfortheuseofland,isnaturallyamonopolyprice.Itisnotatallproportionedtowhatthelandlordmayhavelaidoutupontheimprovementoftheland,ortowhathecanaffordtotake;buttowhatthefarmercanaffordtogive."
[Smith,I,p.131]
"They[landlords]aretheonlyonesofthethreeorderswhoserevenuecoststhemneitherlabornorcare,butcomestothem,asitwere,ofitsownaccord,andindependentofanyplanorprojectoftheirown.
[Smith,I,p.230]Wehavealreadyseenhowthevolumeofrentdependsuponthedegreeoffertilityoftheland.
"Therentoflandnotonlyvarieswithitsfertility,whateverbeitsproduce,butwithitssituation,whateverbeitsfertility."
[Smith,I,p.133]
"Theproduceoflands,mines,andfisheries,whentheirnaturalfertilityisequal,isinproportiontotheextentandproperapplicationofthecapitalsemployedaboutthem.Whenthecapitalsareequalandequallywellapplied,itisinproportiontotheirnaturalfertility."
[Smith,I,p.249]TheseproportionsofSmithareimportant,becausetheyreducetherentland,wherecostsofproductionandsizeareequal,tothedegreeoffertilityofthesoil.Thisclearlydemonstratestheperversionofconceptsinpoliticaleconomy,whichturnsthefertilityofthesoilintoanattributeofthelandlord.
Butletusnowexaminetherelationbetweenlandlordandtenant.
"Inadjustingthetermsofthelease,thelandlordendeavorstoleavehimnogreatershareoftheproductthanwhatissufficienttokeepupthestockfromwhichhefurnishestheseed,paysthelabor,andpurchasesandmaintainsthecattleandotherinstrumentsofhusbandry,togetherwiththeordinaryprofitsoffarmingstockintheneighborhood.Thisisevidentlythesmallestsharewithwhichthetenantcancontenthimselfwithoutbeingaloser,andthelandlordseldommeanstoleavehimanymore.Whateverpartoftheproduce,or,whatisthesamething,whateverpartofthepriceisoverandabovethisshare,henaturallyintendstoreservehimselfastherentofhisland,whichisevidentlythehighestthetenantcanaffordtopayintheactualcircumstancesofthelandThisportionmaystillbeconsideredasthenaturalrentofland,ortherentforwhichitisactuallymeantthatlandshouldforthemostpartbelet."
[Smith,I,p.130—31]
"Thelandlords,"saysSay,"operateacertainkindofmonopolyagainstthetenants.Thedemandsfortheircommodity,whichisland,iscapableofaninfiniteexpansion;butthesupplycanonlyincreaseuptoacertainpointTheagreementreachedbetweenlandlordandtenantisalwaysasadvantageousaspossibletotheformerApartfromtheadvantagewhichhederivesfromthenatureofthecase,hederivesafurtheronefromhisposition,hislargerfortune,hiscreditandhisstanding;butthefirstoftheseadvantagesisinitselfenoughtoenablehimatalltimestoprofitfromthefavorablecircumstancesoftheland.TheopeningofacanalorroadandagrowthinpopulationandprosperityinacantonalwaysraisethepriceoftherentWhatismore,evenifthetenantmakesimprovementonhisplotoflandathisownexpense,hecanonlybenefitfromthiscapitalforthedurationofhislease;
whenhisleaserunsout,thiscapitalremainsinthehandsofthelandlord.Fromthismomenton,itisthelatterwhoreapstheinterest,eventhoughitwasnothewhomadetheoriginaloutlay;
fornowtherentisraisedproportionately."
[Say,II,pp.142—3]
"Rent,consideredasthepricepaidfortheuseofland,isnaturallythehighestwhichthetenantcanaffordtopayintheactualcircumstancesoftheland."
[Smith,I,p.130]
"Therentofanestateabovegroundcommonlymountstowhatissupposedtobeathirdofthegrossproduce;anditisgenerallyarentcertainandindependentoftheoccassionalvariationsinthecrop."
[Smith,I,p.153]
Rent"isseldomlessthanafourth,andfrequentlymorethanathirdofthewholeproduce."
[Smith,I,p.325]Groundrentcannotbepaidinthecaseofallcommodities.Forexample,inmanydistrictsnorentispaidforstones.
"Suchpartsonlyoftheproduceoflandcancommonlybebroughttomarketofwhichtheordinarypriceissufficienttoreplacethestockwhichmustbeemployedinbringingthemthither,togetherwithitsordinaryprofits.Iftheordinarypriceismorethanthis,thesurpluspartofitwillnaturallygototherentoftheland.Ifitisnotmore,thoughthecommoditymaybebroughttomarket,itcanaffordnorenttothelandlord.Whetherthepriceisorisnotmoredependsuponthedemand."
[Smith,I,p.132]
"Rent,itistobeobserved,therefore,entersintothecompositionofthepriceofcommoditiesinadifferentwayfromwagesandprofit.Highorlowwagesandprofitarethecausesofhighorlowprices;highorlowrentistheeffectofit."
[Smith,I,p.132]Amongtheproductswhichalwaysyieldarentisfood.
"Asmen,likeallotheranimals,naturallymultiplyinproportionthemeansofsubsistence,foodisalways,moreorless,indemand.
Itcanalwayspurchaseorcommandagreaterorsmallerquantityoflabor,andsomebodycanalwaysbefoundwhoiswillingtodosomethinginordertoobtainit.Thequantityoflabor,indeed,whichitcanpurchaseisnotalwaysequaltowhatitcouldmaintain,ifmanagedinthemosteconomicalmanner,onaccountofthehighwageswhicharesometimesgiventolabor.Butitcanalwayspurchasesuchaquantityoflaborasitcanmaintain,accordingtotherateatwhichthatsortoflaboriscommonlymaintainedintheneighborhood.
"Butland,inalmostanysituation,producesagreaterquantityoffoodthanwhatissufficienttomaintainallthelabornecessaryforbringingittomarketinthemostliberalwayinwhichthatlaborisevermaintained.Thesurplus,too,isalwaysmorethansufficienttoreplacethestockwhichemployedthatlabor,togetherwithitsprofits.Something,therefore,alwaysremainsforarenttothelandlord."
[Smith,I,p.132—3]
"Foodis,inthismanner,notonlytheoriginalsourceofrent,buteveryotherpartoftheproduceoflandwhichafterwardsaffordsrentderivesthatpartofitsvaluefromtheimprovementofthepowersoflaborinproducingfoodbymeansoftheimprovementandcultivationofland."
[Smith,I,p.150]
"Humanfoodseemstobetheonlyproduceoflandwhichalwaysandnecessarilyaffordsarenttothelandlord."
[Smith,I,p.147]
"Countriesarepopulousnotinproportiontothenumberofpeoplewhomtheirproducecanclotheandlodge,butinproportiontothatofthosewhomitcanfeed."
[Smith,I,p.149]"Afterfood,clothing,andlodging,arethetwogreatwantsofmankind."
[Smith,I,p.147]Theygenerallyyieldarent,butnotnecessarily.
Letusnowseeshowthelandlordexploitseverythingwhichistothebenefitofsociety.
(1)Therentoflandincreaseswithpopulation.
(2)WehavealreadylearntfromSayhowgroundrentriseswithrailways,etc.,andwiththeimprovement,security,andmultiplicationofthemeansofcommunication.
(3)"everyimprovementinthecircumstancesofthesocietytendseitherdirectlyorindirectlytoraisetherealrentofland,toincreasetherealwealthofthelandlord,hispowerofpurchasingthelabor,ortheproduceofthelaborofotherpeople.
"Theextensionofimprovementandcultivationtendstoraiseitdirectly.Thelandlord’sshareoftheproducenecessarilyincreaseswithanincreaseoftheproduce.
"Thatriseintherealpriceofthosepartsoftherudeproduceoflandtheriseinthepriceofcattle,forexample,tendstootoraisetherentoflanddirectly,andinastillgreaterproportion.Therealvalueofthelandlord’sshare,hisrealcommandofthelaborofotherpeople,notonlyriseswiththerealvalueoftheproduce,buttheproportionofhissharetothewholeproduceriseswithit.Thatproduce,aftertheriseinitsrealprice,requiresnomorelabortocollectitthanbefore.Asmallerproportionofitwill,therefore,besufficienttoreplace,withtheordinaryprofit,thestockwhichemploysthatlabor.Agreaterproportionofitmust,consequently,belongtothelandlord."
[Smith,I,pp.228—29]Thegreaterthedemandforrawproductsandtheconsequentriseintheirvaluemaypartlybearesultoftheincreaseinpopulationandthegrowthoftheirneeds.Buteverynewinventionandeverynewapplicationinmanufactureofarawmaterialwhichwaspreviouslynotusedatalloronlyusedrarely,makesforanincreaseinthegroundrent.Forexample,therentofcoal—minesroseenormouslywhenrailways,steamships,etc.,wereintroduced.
Besidesthisadvantagewhichthelandlordderivesfrommanufacture,discoveries,andlabor,thereisanotherthatweshallseepresently.
(4)"Allthoseimprovementsintheproductivepowersoflabor,whichtenddirectlytoreducetherealpriceofmanufactures,tendindirectlytoraisetherealrentofland.Thelandlordexchangesthatpartofhisrudeproduce,whichisoverandabovehisownconsumption,orwhatcomestothesamething,thepriceofthatpartofit,formanufacturedproduce.
Whateverreducestherealpriceofthelatter,raisesthatoftheformer.Anequalopportunityoftheformerbecomestherebyequivalenttoagreaterquantityofthelatter;andthelandlordisenabledtopurchaseagreaterquantityoftheconveniences,ornaments,orluxuries,whichhehasoccassionfor."
[Smith,I,pp.228—29]Butitisfoolishtoconclude,asSmithdoes,thatsincethelandlordexploitseverythingwhichisofbenefittosociety,theinterestofthelandlordisalwaysidenticalwiththatofsociety.Intheeconomicsystem,underwhichtheruleofprivateproperty,theinterestwhichanyindividualhasinsocietyisininverseproportiontotheinterestwhichsocietyhasinhim,justastheinterestofthemoneylenderinthespendthriftisnotatallidenticalwiththeinterestofthespendthrift.
Wementiononlyinpassingthelandlord’sobsessionwithmonopolyagainstthelandedpropertyofforeigncountries,whichisthereason,forexample,forthecornlaws.Weshallsimilarlypassovermediaevalserfdom,slaveryinthecoloniesandthedistressoftheruralpopulation——theday—laborers——inGreatBritain.Letusconfineourselvestothepropositionsofpoliticaleconomyitself.
(1)Thelandlord’sinterestinthewell—beingofsocietymeans,accordingtotheprinciplesofpoliticaleconomy,thatheisinterestedinthegrowthofitspopulationanditsproductionandtheincreaseofitsneeds,inaword,intheincreaseofwealth;andtheincreaseofwealthis,ifourpreviousobservationsarecorrect,identicalwiththegrowthofmiseryandslavery.Therelationshipofrisingrentsandrisingmiseryisoneexampleofthelandlord’sinterestinsociety,forariseinhouserentalsomeansariseingroundrent——theinterestonthelandonwhichthehousestands.
(2)Accordingtothepoliticaleconomiststhemselves,theinterestofthelandlordisfiercelyopposedtothatofthetenant,andthereforeofaconsiderablesectionofsociety.
(3)Thelandlordisinapositiontodemandmorerentfromthetenantthelesswagesthetenantpaysout,andthemorerentthelandlorddemandsthefurtherthetenantpushesdownthewages.Forthisreason,thelandlord’sinterestisjustasopposedtothatofthefarmlaborerasthemanufacturer’sistothatoftheworkers.Itlikewisepusheswagesdowntoaminimum.
(4)Sincearealreductioninthepriceofmanufacturedproductsputsuptherentofland,thelandownerhasadirectinterestindepressingthewagesofthefactoryworker,incompetitionamongthecapitalists,inoverproductionandinallthemiseryoccassionedbyindustry.
(5)Sotheinterestofthelandowner,farfrombeingidenticalwiththeinterestofsociety,isfiercelyopposedtotheinterestsofthetenants,thefarmlaborers,thefactoryworkers,andthecapitalists.But,asaresultofcompetition,theinterestofonelandownerisnotevenidenticalwiththatofanother.Weshallnowtakealookatcompetition.
Generallyspeaking,largelandedpropertyandsmalllandedpropertyareinthesamerelationtooneanotheraslargeandsmallcapital.Inaddition,however,therearespecialcircumstanceswhichlead,withoutfail,totheaccumulationoflargelandedpropertyandtheswallowingupofsmallproperties.
(1)Nowheredoesthenumberofworkersandtheamountofequipmentdeclinesogreatlyinproportiontothesizeofthestockasinlandedproperty.Similarly,nowheredoesthepossibilityofmany—sidedexploitation,thesavingofproportioncostsandthejudiciousdivisionoflaborincreasemoreinproportiontothatstockthaninthissphere.
Whateverthesizeoftheplot,thereisacertainminimumoftoolsrequired——aplough,asaw,etc.——belowwhichitisimpossibletogo,whereasthereisnosuchlowermostlimittothesizeoftheproperty.
(2)Largelandedpropertyaccumulatedforitselftheinterestonthecapitalwhichthetenanthasinvestedintheimprovementoftheland.Smalllandedpropertymustemployitsowncapital.Theentireprofitonthiscapitalislosttotheinvestor.
(3)Whileeverysocialimprovementbenefitsthelargelandedproperty,itharmsthesmallone,sinceitmakesanincreasinglylargeamountofreadymoneynecessary.
(4)Therearetwofurtherimportantlawsofthiscompetitiontobeconsidered:
(a)"therentofthecultivatedland,ofwhichtheproduceishumanfood,regulatestherentofthegreaterpartoftheothercultivatedland."
[Smith,I,p.144]Inthelongrun,onlythelargeestatecanproducesourcesoffoodsuchascattle,etc.Itis,therefore,inapositiontoregulatetherentofotherlandandforceitdowntoaminimum.
Thesmalllandownerwhoworksonhisownaccountis,therefore,inthesamerelationtothebiglandownerasthecraftsmanwhoownshisowntoolsistothefactoryowner.Thesmallestatehasbecomeameretool.
Groundrentdisappearsentirelyforthesmalllandowner;atthemost,thereremainstohimtheinterestonhiscapitalandthewagesofhislabor,forgroundrentcanbeforcedsolowbycompetitionthatitbecomesnothingmorethantheinterestoncapitalnotinvestedbytheownerhimself.
(b)Furthermore,wehavealreadyseenthatgivenequalfertilityandequallyeffectiveexploitationoflands,mines,andfisheries,theproduceisinproportiontotheextentofcapitalemployed.Hence,thevictoryofthelargelandowner.Similarly,whereequalamountsofcapitalareinvested,theproduceisinproportiontothedegreeoffertility.
Thatistosay,wherecapitalsareequal,victorygoestotheownerofthemorefertileland.
(c)"Amineofanykindmaybesaidtobeeitherfertileorbarren,accordingasthequantityofmineralwhichcanbebroughtfromitbyacertainquantityoflaborisgreaterorlessthanwhatcanbebroughtbyanequalquantityfromthegreaterpartofotherminesofthesamekind."
[Smith,I,p.151]
"Themostfertilecoal—mine,too,regulatesthepriceofcoalsatalltheotherminesinitsneighborhood.Boththeproprietorandtheundertakeroftheworkfind,theonethathecangetagreaterrent,theotherthathecangetagreaterprofitbysomewhatundersellingalltheirneighbors.
Theirneighborsaresoonobligedtosellatthesameprice,thoughtheycannotsowellaffordit,andthoughitalwaysdiminishes,andsometimestakesawayaltogetherboththeirrentandtheirprofit.Someworksareabandonedaltogether;
otherscanaffordnorent,andcanbewroughtonlybytheproprietor."
[Smith,I,pp.152—3]
"AfterthediscoveroftheminesofPeru,thesilver—minesofEuropewere,thegreaterpartofthem,abandoned
Thiswasthecase,too,withtheancientminesofPeru,afterthediscoveryofthoseofPotosi."
[Smith,I,p.154]WhatSmithsayshereofminesismore—or—lesstrueoflandedpropertyingeneral.
(d)"Theordinarymarketpriceofland,itistobeobserved,dependseverywhereupontheordinarymarketrateofinterestiftherentoflandshouldfallshortoftheinterestofmoneybyagreaterdifference,nobodywouldbuytheland,whichwouldsoonreduceitsordinaryprice.Onthecontrary,iftheadvantagesshouldmuchmorethancompensatethedifference,everybodywouldbuytheland,whichwouldsoonraiseitsordinaryprice."
[Smith,I,p.320]Iffollowsfromthisrelationbetweengroundrentandinterestonmoneythatgroundrentmustcontinuetofalluntileventuallyonlytherichestpeoplecanaffordtolivefromit.Thismeansanincreaseincompetitionbetweenthoselandownerswhodonotleaseouttheirland.Someofthemareruined.Thereisonceagainanaccumulationoflargelandedproperty.
Thiscompetitionhasthefurtherconsequencethatalargepartoflandedpropertyfallsintothehandsofthecapitalists;thus,thecapitalistbecomeslandowners,justasthesmallerlandownersare,ingeneral,nothingmorethancapitalists.Inthisway,apartoflargelandedpropertybecomesindustrial.
So,thefinalconsequenceoftheabolitionofthedistinctionbetweencapitalistandlandowner——whichmeansthat,ingeneral,thereremainonlytwoclassesinthepopulation:theworkingclassandthecapitalistclass.Thissellingoffoflandedproperty,andtransformationofsuchpropertyintoacommodity,marksthefinalcollapseoftheoldaristocracyandthefinalvictoryofthearistocracyofmoney.
(1)Werefusetojoininthesentimentaltearswhichromanticismshedsonthisaccount.Romanticismalwaysconfusestheinfamyofsellingoffthelandwiththeentirelyreasonableand,withinthesystemofprivateproperty,inevitableanddesirableconsequenceofthesellingoffofprivatepropertyinland.Inthefirstplace,feudallandedpropertyisalreadyinessencelandwhichhasbeensoldoff,landwhichhasbeenestrangedfrommanandnowconfrontshimintheshapeofahandfulofgreatlords.
Infeudallandownership,wealreadyfindthedominationoftheearthasofanalienpowerovermen.Theserfisanappurtenanceoftheland.Similarly,theheirthroughprimogeniture,thefirstbornson,belongstotheland.Itinheritshim.Theruleofprivatepropertybeginswithpropertyinland,whichisitsbasis.Butinthesystemoffeudallandownership,thelordatleastappearstobekingoftheland.Inthesameway,thereisstilltheappearanceofarelationshipbetweenownerandlandwhichisbasedonsomethingmoreintimatethanmerematerialwealth.
Thelandisindividualizedwithitslord,itacquireshisstatus,itisbaronialorducalwithhim,hashisprivileges,hisjurisdiction,hispoliticalposition,etc.Itappearsastheinorganicbodyofitslord.Hencetheproverb,nulleterresansmaitre["Nolandwithoutitsmaster"],whichexpressestheblendingofnobilityandlandedproperty.Inthesameway,theruleoflandedpropertydoesnotappeardirectlyastheruleofmerecapital.Itsrelationshiptothosedependentuponitismorelikethatofafatherland.Itisasortofnarrowpersonality.
Inthesameway,feudallandedpropertygivesitsnametoitslord,asdoesakingdomtoitsking.Hisfamilyhistory,thehistoryofhishouse,etc.——allthisindividualizeshisestateforhim,andformallyturnsitintohishouse,intoaperson.Similarly,theworkersontheestatearenotinthepositionofday—laborers;rather,theyarepartlythepropertyofthelandowner,asareserfs,andtheyarepartlylinkedtohimthrougharelationshipbasedonrespect,submissiveness,andduty.
Hisrelationtothemisthereforedirectlypolitical,andevenhasanagreeableaspect.Customs,character,etc.,varyfromoneestatetoanotherandappeartobeonewiththeirparticularstretchofland;later,however,itisonlyaman’spurse,andnothischaracterorindividuality,whichtieshimtotheland.Finally,thefeudallandownermakesnoattempttoextractthemaximumprofitfromhisproperty.Rather,heconsumeswhatisthereandleavestheharvestingofittohisserfsandtenants.Suchisthearistocraticconditionoflandownership,whichshedsaromanticgloryonitslords.
Itisinevitablethatthisappearanceshouldbeabolishedandthatlandedproperty,whichistherootofprivateproperty,shouldbedrawnentirelyintotheorbitofprivatepropertyandbecomeacommodity;
thattheruleofthepropertyownershouldappearasthenakedruleofprivateproperty,ofcapital,divestedofallpoliticaltincture;thattherelationshipbetweenpropertyownerandworkershouldbereducedtotheeconomicrelationshipbetweenthepropertyownerandhispropertyshouldcometoanend,andthatthepropertyitselfshouldbecomepurelymaterialwealth;thatthemarriageofinterestwiththelandshouldtakeoverfromthemarriageofhonor,andthatland,likeman,shouldsinktothelevelofavenalobject.Itisinevitablethattherootoflandedproperty——
sordidself—interest——shouldalsomanifestitselfinitscynicalform.
Itisinevitablethatimmovablemonopolyshouldbecomemobileandrestlessmonopoly,competition;andthattheidleemploymentoftheproductsofthesweatandbloodofotherpeopleshouldbecomeabriskcommerceinthesame.Finally,itisinevitableundertheseconditionsofcompetitionthatlandedproperty,intheformofcapital,shouldmanifestitsdominationbothovertheworkingclassandoverthepropertyownersthemselves,inasmuchasthelawsofthemovementofcapitalareeitherruiningorraisingthem.
Inthisway,themediaevalsayingnulleterresansseigneurgiveswaytothemodernsayingl’argentn’apasdemaitre["Moneyknowsnomaster"],whichisanexpressionofthecompletedominationofdeadmatterovermen.
(2)Thefollowingobservationscanbemadeinconnectionwiththecontroversyoverwhetherornottodivideuplandedproperty.
Thedivisionoflandedpropertynegatesthelarge—scalemonopolyoflandedproperty,abolishesit,butonlybygeneralizingit.Itdoesnotabolishthebasisofmonopoly,whichisprivateproperty.Itattackstheexistence,butnottheessence,ofmonopoly.Theconsequenceisthatitfallsfoulofthelawsofprivateproperty.Fortodivideuplandedpropertycorrespondstothemovementofcompetitionintheindustrialsphere.
Apartfromtheeconomicdisadvantagesofthisdivisionoftheinstrumentsoflaborandseparationoflabor(nottobeconfusedwiththedivisionoflabor;thisisnotacaseofdividingupworkamonganumberofindividuals,butofeachindividualdoingthesamework;itisamultiplicationofthesamework),thisdivisionoftheland,likecompetitioninindustry,inevitablyleadstofurtheraccumulation.
Sowhereverlandedpropertyisdividedup,monopolywillinevitablyreappearinanevenmorerepulsiveform——unless,thatis,thedivisionoflandedpropertyitselfisnegatedorabolished.Thisdoesnotmeanareturntofeudalproperty,buttheabolition[Aufhebung]ofprivatepropertyislandaltogether.Thefirststepintheabolitionofmonopolyisalwaystogeneralizeandextenditsexistence.Theabolitionofmonopoly,whenithasreacheditsbroadestandmostcomprehensiveexistence,isitscompletedestruction.Association,whenappliedtotheland,retainsthebenefitsoflargelandedpropertyfromaneconomicpointofviewandrealizesforthefirsttimethetendencyinherentinthedivisionofland,namelyequality.
Atthesametime,associationrestoresman’sintimatelinkstothelandinarationalway,nolongermediatedbyserfdom,lordship,andanimbecilemystiqueofproperty.Thisisbecausetheearthceasestobeanobjectofbarter,andthroughfreelaborandfreeemploymentonceagainbecomesauthentic,personalpropertyforman.Onegreatadvantageofthedivisionofthelandisthatitsmasses,whoarenolongerpreparedtotolerateservitude,aredestroyedbypropertyinadifferentwayfromthoseinindustry.
Asforlargelandedproperty,itsapologistshavealwayssophisticallyidentifiedtheeconomicadvantagesinherentinlarge—scaleagriculturewithlargelandedproperty,asiftheseadvantageswouldnotontheonehandattaintheirfullestdegreeofdevelopmentandontheotherhandbecomesociallyusefulforthefirsttimeoncepropertyabolished.Similarly,theyhaveattackedthetradingspiritofthesmalllandowners,asiflarge—scalelandownership,eveninitsfeudalform,didnotalreadycontainwithinittheelementsofbarter——nottomentionthemodernEnglishform,inwhichthefeudalismofthelandowneriscombinedwiththehucksteringandtheindustryofthetenantfarmer.
Justaslarge—scalelandedpropertycanreturnthereproachofmonopolymadeagainstitbytheadvocatedofdivisionoftheland,forthedivisionofthelandisalsobasedonthemonopolyofprivateproperty,socantheadvocatesofdivisionreturnthereproachofpartition,forpartitionofthelandalsoexists——thoughinarigid,ossifiedform——
onthelargeestates.Indeed,divisionistheuniversalbasisofprivateproperty.Besides,asthedivisionoflandedpropertyleadsoncemoretolargelandedpropertyintheformofcapitalwealth,feudallandedpropertyinevitablyadvancestowardsdivisionoratleastfallsintothehandsofthecapitalists,howevermuchitmighttwistandturn.
Forlarge—scalelandedproperty,asinEngland,drivestheoverwhelmingmajorityofthepopulationintothearmsofindustryandreducesitsownworkerstototalmisery.Inthisway,itcreatesandincreasesthepowerofitsenemy,capitalandindustry,bydrivingthepoorandanentirerangeofactivitiesovertotheotherside.Itmakesthemajorityofthecountryindustrial,andhenceantagonistictolandedproperty.Whereindustryhasacquiredgreatpower,asinEngland,itgraduallyforceslargelandedpropertytogiveupitsmonopolyagainstforeigncountriesandobligesittocompetewithforeignlandedproperty.Forundertheruleofindustry,landedpropertycouldmaintainitsfeudalproportionsonlybymeansofamonopolyagainstforeigncountries,soastoprotectitselfagainsttheuniversallawsoftradewhichcontradictitsfeudalnature.Onceexposedtocompetition,itisforcedtoobeythelawsofcompetition,justlikeanyothercommoditywhichissubjecttothem.Ittoobeginstofluctuate,toincreaseanddiminish,toflyfromonehandintoanother,andnolawisanylongercapableofkeepingitinafewpredestinedhands,or,atanyevent,surrendertothepoweroftheindustrialcapitalists.
Finally,largelandedproperty,whichhasbeenforciblypreservedinthiswayandwhichhasgivenrisealongsideitselftoanextensiveindustry,leadsmorerapidlytoacrisisthandoesthedivisionoflandedproperty,alongsidewhichthepowerofindustryinvariablytakessecondplace.
ItisclearfromthecaseofEnglandthatlargelandedpropertyhascastoffitsfeudalcharacterandassumedanindustrialcharacterinsofarasitwantstomakeasmuchmoneyaspossible.Ityieldstheownerthebiggestpossiblerentandthetenantthebiggestpossibleprofitonhiscapital.Asaconsequence,theagriculturalworkershavealreadybeenreducedtoaminimum,andtheclassoftenantfarmersalreadyrepresentswithinlandedpropertythemightofindustryandcapital.Asaresultofforeigncompetition,groundrentmoreorlessceasestobeanindependentsourceofincome.Alargepartofthelandownersisforcedtotakeoverfromthetenants,someofwhomareconsequentlyreducedtotheproletariat.Ontheotherhand,manytenantswilltakepossessionoflandedproperty;forthebiglandowners,whohavegiventhemselvesupforthemostparttosquanderingtheircomfortablerevenueandaregenerallynotcapableoflarge—scaleagriculturalmanagement,inmanycaseshaveneitherthecapitalnortheabilitytoexploittheland.Therefore,asectionofthebiglandownersisalsoruined.Eventuallywages,whichhavealreadybeenreducedtoaminimum,mustbereducedevenfurtherinordertomeetthenewcompetition,Thisthenleadsnecessarilytorevolution.
Landedpropertyhadtodevelopineachofthesetwoways,inordertoexperienceinbothofthemitsnecessarydecline;justasindustryhadtoruinitselfbothintheformofmonopolyandintheformofcompetitionbeforeitcouldbelieveinman.
ESTRANGEDLABOR
Wehavestartedoutfromthepremisesofpoliticaleconomy.Wehaveaccepteditslanguageanditslaws.Wepresupposedprivateproperty;theseparationoflabor,capital,andland,andlikewiseofwages,profit,andcapital;thedivisionoflabor;competition;theconceptionofexchangevalue,etc.Frompoliticaleconomyitself,usingitsownwords,wehaveshownthattheworkersinkstothelevelofacommodity,andmoreoverthemostwretchedcommodityofall;thatthemiseryoftheworkerisininverseproportiontothepowerandvolumeofhisproduction;thatthenecessaryconsequenceofcompetitionistheaccumulationofcapitalinafewhandsandhencetherestorationofmonopolyinamoreterribleform;
andthat,finally,thedistinctionbetweencapitalistandlandlord,betweenagriculturalworkerandindustrialworker,disappearsandthewholeofsocietymustsplitintothetwoclassesofpropertyownersandpropertylessworkers.
Politicaleconomyproceedsfromthefactofprivateproperty.
Itdoesnotexplainit.Itgraspsthematerialprocessofprivateproperty,theprocessthroughwhichitactuallypasses,ingeneralandabstractformulaewhichitthentakesaslaws.ItdoesnotComprehendtheselaws——i.e.,itdoesnotshowhowtheyarisefromthenatureofprivateproperty.Politicaleconomyfailstoexplainthereasonforthedivisionbetweenlaborandcapital.Forexample,whenitdefinestherelationofwagestoprofit,ittakestheinterestsofthecapitalistsasthebasisofitsanalysis——i.e.,itassumeswhatitissupposedtoexplain.Similarly,competitionisfrequentlybroughtintotheargumentandexplainedintermsofexternalcircumstances.Politicaleconomyteachesusnothingabouttheextenttowhichtheseexternalandapparentlyaccidentalcircumstancesareonlytheexpressionofanecessarydevelopment.Wehaveseenhowexchangeitselfappearstopoliticaleconomyasanaccidentalfact.Theonlywheelswhichpoliticaleconomysetsinmotionaregreed,andthewaroftheavaricious——Competition.
Preciselybecausepoliticaleconomyfailstograsptheinterconnectionswithinthemovement,itwaspossibletooppose,forexample,thedoctrineofcompetitiontothedoctrineofmonopoly,thedoctrineofcraftfreedomtothedoctrineoftheguild,andthedoctrineofthedivisionoflandedpropertytothedoctrineofthegreatestate;forcompetition,craftfreedom,anddivisionoflandedpropertyweredevelopedandconceivedonlyasaccidental,deliberate,violentconsequencesofmonopoly,oftheguilds,andoffeudalproperty,andnotastheirnecessary,inevitable,andnaturalconsequences.
Wenowhavetograsptheessentialconnectionbetweenprivateproperty,greed,theseparationoflabor,capitalandlandedproperty,exchangeandcompetition,valueandthedevaluation[Entwertung]
ofman,monopoly,andcompetition,etc.——theconnectionbetweenthisentiresystemofestrangement[Entfremdung]andthemoneysystem.
Wemustavoidrepeatingthemistakeofthepoliticaleconomist,whobaseshisexplanationsonsomeimaginaryprimordialcondition.Suchaprimordialconditionexplainsnothing.Itsimplypushesthequestionintothegreyandnebulousdistance.Itassumesasfactsandeventswhatitissupposedtodeduce——namely,thenecessaryrelationshipsbetweentwothings,between,forexample,thedivisionoflaborandexchange.Similarly,theologyexplainstheoriginofevilbythefallofMan——i.e.,itassumesasafactintheformofhistorywhatitshouldexplain.
Weshallstartoutfromapresent—dayeconomicfact.
Theworkerbecomespoorerthemorewealthheproduces,themorehisproductionincreasesinpowerandextent.Theworkerbecomesanevercheapercommoditythemorecommoditiesheproduces.Thedevaluationofthehumanworldgrowsindirectproportiontotheincreaseinvalueoftheworldofthings.Labornotonlyproducescommodities;italsoproducesitselfandtheworkersasacommodityanditdoessointhesameproportioninwhichitproducescommoditiesingeneral.
Thisfactsimplymeansthattheobjectthatlaborproduces,itproduct,standsopposedtoitassomethingalien,asapowerindependentoftheproducer.Theproductoflaborislaborembodiedandmadematerialinanobject,itistheobjectificationoflabor.Therealizationoflaborisitsobjectification.Inthesphereofpoliticaleconomy,thisrealizationoflaborappearsasalossofrealityfortheworker,objectificationaslossofandbondagetotheobject,andappropriationasestrangement,asalienation[Entausserung].
Somuchdoestherealizationoflaborappearaslossofrealitythattheworkerloseshisrealitytothepointofdyingofstarvation.
Somuchdoesobjectificationappearaslossoftheobjectthattheworkerisrobbedoftheobjectsheneedsmostnotonlyforlifebutalsoforwork.
Workitselfbecomesanobjectwhichhecanonlyobtainthroughanenormouseffortandwithspasmodicinterruptions.Somuchdoestheappropriationoftheobjectappearasestrangementthatthemoreobjectstheworkerproducesthefewercanhepossessandthemorehefallsunderthedominationofhisproduct,ofcapital.
Alltheseconsequencesarecontainedinthischaracteristic,thattheworkersisrelatedtotheproductoflaborastoanalienobject.
Foritisclearthat,accordingtothispremise,themoretheworkerexertshimselfinhiswork,themorepowerfulthealien,objectiveworldbecomeswhichhebringsintobeingoveragainsthimself,thepoorerheandhisinnerworldbecome,andthelesstheybelongtohim.Itisthesameinreligion.ThemoremanputsintoGod,thelessheretainswithinhimself.
Theworkerplaceshislifeintheobject;butnowitnolongerbelongstohim,buttotheobject.Thegreaterhisactivity,therefore,thefewerobjectstheworkerpossesses.Whattheproductofhislaboris,heisnot.
第2章