第 14 节
作者:
旅游巴士 更新:2024-01-24 16:00 字数:7798
30。 〃Elements〃; Bk。 vi。; Ch。 ii; sect。 2; and corresponding place in 〃Principles。〃
31。 〃Elements〃; Bk。 vi。; Ch。 v; sect。 4; and corresponding place in 〃Principles〃。
32。 See above; p。 24。
33。 In a paper; replying to Dietzel; on 〃Wert; Kosten und Grenznutzen〃; in Conrad's Jahrbucher; third series; book iii。 p。 332。
34。 The change of occupation is not always brough about by individuals abandoning the occupations in which they are engaged。 When in any branch of employment the decrease from death; etc。; is not offset by the number entering the same; we haave a change of occupation。 Those who make up the difference have gone into other lines。 Though operating more slowly; the effect of this is the same as if individuals made a direct change。
35。 Professor Marshall has very correctly remarked that the use of the term normal is more of less arbitrary。 A price which we would call normal; when we have in mind a period of cetain length; we would no call normal when considering a longer period (〃Principles〃; Bk。 vii; ch。 vi。; sect。 4) Otherwise I would certainly insist that the real law of cost has to do with no longer period than is sufficient to allow the adjustment of the price of the ware to the equalized position of wages (and interest); the wider adjustment of the wages of labor to the cost of maintaining the laborer; which under certain circumstances might require a still longer period of time; is an entirely different problem。 So far as this can be further maintained as a general law; it is in no sense an effect of the real law of cost; but should be regarded as the effect of another law a law which has no actual connection with the real law of cost。 It depends upon the action of quite different forces and in its result has but an external or non…essential similarity; which has led to the unqualified evil of confounding the two laws。 The impelling motive of that law of cost; which really influences the price of wares; is usually a shrewd estimating of economic conditions; the striving for the greatest possible utility and the avoidance of harm。 The motive of a pretended iron law of wages is on the one side the irrestibleness of sexual desire; and on the other the great mortality which results from insufficient food。 But the effects of such natural forces can no more be credited to the vulgar economical law of cost than the aggregation of a great number of men in large cities can be credited to the law of gravitation; which of course; because of a similar play upon external analogies; has already been maintained by Carey。
36。 I would not fall to mention that the position of wages which corresponds to or equals the 〃net product of the last employed laborer〃 is; according to Professor Marshall's view; in no sense a temporary market price; but a sort of 〃long period price;〃 which requires for its development a more or less prolonged leveling process。 It is a sor of centre of gravity for the oscillations of the supply and demand of labor。
37。 In this attempt Wieser has taken a prominent part。 Compare his 〃Ursprung und Hauptgesetze des Wirtschaftlichen Wertes〃; 1884; page 139; and 〃Der naturliche Wert〃; 1889; page 164。 Compare also the excellent resume by Smart; in the editor's preface to the English edition of the last named work。 London; 1893; p。 xix。
38。 Professor Marshall; in his example of the marginal shepherd; has made a very useful application of this concept of the last employed labor; though in a somewhat different direction。 The increase of product which results;when; without increasing the capital; we employ an additional laborer; he conceives to be the answer to the question。 How much of the total product may be regarded as the product of labor; as opposed to product of capital? Professor Marshall also allows the last employed laborer to play a part in the question of the relation between the laborer and the capitalist; or in the queston of the division of the price of their products; I; on the other hand; do not allow the last employed laborer to play any part in the question of the relation between laborer and consumer; or in the question of the determination of the height of the price of the product。 Nevertheless; I believe there is no material difference in our positions。 The truth is; that the 〃last employed laborer〃 in both cases plays the role ascribed to him。 But since I have expressly excluded all factors of production except labor (see above page); there was no occasion for me to speak further of the division of the product between the laborer and the capitalist。 In my book on 〃Capital: I have given attention to this question。 In our present discussion; we would not insist upon every point involved in that abstraction。 (See page 11。)
39。 I beg the reader not to forget that in this investigation we ignore all factors of production except labor; especially the so…called abstinence。 If we did not do so; we would somewhat complicate our example。 Besides the cost of labor; we would have to take account of the cost of abstinence; must then subtract this latter from the market price。 Then all conclusions; which we have here developed for the relation between the total market price of the product to the wages of labor; would have to be developed; for the relation of the market price of the product; diminished by the other costs of production to the wages of labor。
40。 The fact that there are always a number of laborers not of employment tells in no way against my contention; it is a result; not of an excess of labor force; but of those never…failing disturbances of the organization of the entire; yet insufficient; supply of the labour force。
41。 For the sake of the critical reader I would here remark that I am well aware that if we assume an increase in the labor forces we cannot at the same time assume that the other conditions remain entirely unchanged。 The increase in product which results from an increase in the number of laborers will also bring with it an increase in the purchasing power or in the demand。 But if; as in the text; we assume that with an unchanged condition of capital and land; the labor alone is increased; the increase in the demand for labor and the products of labor would not be strong enough to completely compensate the increase in the supply of labor; for the increase in product thus obtained cannot be wholly applied to the indemnification of labor; some fractional part of it must be given as tribute to the other co…operating factors in production; Capital and Land; for these factors have; under our supposition; become relatively scarcer than the factor; Labor; and so are in a position to insist on the payment of this tribute。 It results from this; that this increased product of labor can no longer be taken up by the stratum of demand; which can pay eighty cents; but must find its market in a deeper;though it may be only a little deeper; stratum of the demand。 I would also remark; that the question touched upon in this note is a most difficult and complicated one; it contains; perhaps; the most difficult part of the difficult theory of wages; and that I do not for a moment think that I have exhausted the subject with these rather brief; and I fear somewhat obscure remarks。 I would only call attention to the fact that I have not lost sight of a difficulty; the complete exposition of which would lead us too far afield。
42。 See above page 24。
43。 See above page 15。
44。 〃Cost and Expense;〃 page 67。 Annals; May; 1893。
45。 Compare for example B。 Dietzel's writings; especially the paragraphs cited in my answer (Conrad's Jahrbucher); third series; book iii; page 327。 See also Professor Edgeworth in the Economic Journal; June; 1892; pages 234; 237。
46。 See above page 29。