第 4 节
作者:暖暖      更新:2024-04-07 11:54      字数:9322
  an increase in the price of agricultural produce; from increased
  demand; as without nominally lowering the expense of production;
  will increase the difference between this expense and the price
  of produce。
  The operation of the three first causes in lowering the
  expenses of cultivation; compared with the price of produce; are
  quite obvious; the fourth requires a few further observations。
  If a great and continued demand should arise among
  surrounding nations for the raw produce of a particular country;
  the price of this produce would of course rise considerably; and
  the expenses of cultivation; rising only slowly and gradually to
  the same proportion; the price of produce might for a long time
  keep so much ahead; as to give a prodigious stimulus to
  improvement; and encourage the employment of much capital in
  bringing fresh land under cultivation; and rendering the old much
  more productive。
  Nor would the effect be essentially different in a country
  which continued to feed its own people; if instead of a demand
  for its raw produce; there was the same increasing demand for its
  manufactures。 These manufactures; if from such a demand the value
  of their amount in foreign countries was greatly to increase;
  would bring back a great increase of value in return; which
  increase of value could not fail to increase the value of the raw
  produce。 The demand for agricultural as well as manufactured
  produce would be augmented; and a considerable stimulus; though
  not perhaps to the same extent as in the last case; would be
  given to every kind of improvement on the land。
  A similar effect would be produced by the introduction of new
  machinery; and a more judicious division of labour in
  manufactures。 It almost always happens in this case; not only
  that the quantity of manufactures is very greatly increased; but
  that the value of the whole mass is augmented; from the great
  extension of the demand for them; occasioned by their cheapness。
  We see; in consequence; that in all rich manufacturing and
  commercial countries; the value of manufactured and commercial
  products bears a very high proportion to the raw products;(10*)
  whereas; in comparatively poor countries; without much internal
  trade and foreign commerce; the value of their raw produce
  constitutes almost the whole of their wealth。 If we suppose the
  wages of labour so to rise with the rise of produce; as to give
  the labourer the same command of the means of subsistence as
  before; yet if he is able to purchase a greater quantity of other
  necessaries and conveniencies; both foreign and domestic; with
  the price of a given quantity of corn; he may be equally well
  fed; clothed; and lodged; and population may be equally
  encouraged; although the wages of labour may not rise so high in
  proportion as the price of produce。
  And even when the price of labour does really rise in
  proportion to the price of produce; which is a very rare case;
  and can only happen when the demand for labour precedes; or is at
  least quite contemporary with the demand for produce; it is so
  impossible that all the other outgoings in which capital is
  expended; should rise precisely in the same proportion; and at
  the same time; such as compositions for tithes; parish rates;
  taxes; manure; and the fixed capital accumulated under the former
  low prices; that a period of some continuance can scarcely fail
  to occur; when the difference between the price of produce and
  the cost of production is increased。
  In some of these cases; the increase in the price of
  agricultural produce; compared with the cost of the instruments
  of production; appears from what has been said to be only
  temporary; and in these instances it will often give a
  considerable stimulus to cultivation; by an increase of
  agricultural profits; without showing itself much in the shape of
  rent。 It hardly ever fails; however; to increase rent ultimately。
  The increased capital; which is employed in consequence of the
  opportunity of making great temporary profits; can seldom if ever
  be entirely removed from the land; at the expiration of the
  current leases; and; on the renewal of these leases; the landlord
  feels the benefit of it in the increase of his rents。
  Whenever then; by the operation of the four causes above
  mentioned; the difference between the price of produce and the
  cost of the instruments of production increases; the rents of
  land will rise。
  It is; however; not necessary that all these four causes
  should operate at the same time; it is only necessary that the
  difference here mentioned should increase。 If; for instance; the
  price of produce were to rise; while the wages of labour; and the
  price of the other branches of capital did not rise in
  proportion; and at the same time improved modes of agriculture
  were coming into general use; it is evident that this difference
  might be increased; although the profits of agricultural stock
  were not only undiminished; but were to rise decidedly higher。
  Of the great additional quantity of capital employed upon the
  land in this country; during the last twenty years; by far the
  greater part is supposed to have been generated on the soil; and
  not to have been brought from commerce or manufactures。 And it
  was unquestionably the high profits of agricultural stock;
  occasioned by improvements in the modes of agriculture; and by
  the constant rise of prices; followed only slowly by a
  proportionate rise in the different branches of capital; that
  afforded the means of so rapid and so advantageous an
  accumulation。
  In this case cultivation has been extended; and rents have
  risen; although one of the instruments of production; capital;
  has been dearer。
  In the same manner a fall of profits and improvements in
  agriculture; or even one of them separately; might raise rents;
  notwithstanding a rise of wages。
  It may be laid down then as a general truth; that rents
  naturally rise as the difference between the price of produce and
  the cost of the instruments of production increases。
  It is further evident; that no fresh land can be taken into
  cultivation till rents have risen; or would allow of a rise upon
  what is already cultivated。
  Land of an inferior quality requires a great quantity of
  capital to make it yield a given produce; and; if the actual
  price of this produce be not such as fully to compensate the cost
  of production; including the existing rate of profits; the land
  must remain uncultivated。 It matters not whether this
  compensation is effected by an increase in the money price of raw
  produce; without a proportionate increase in the money price of
  the instruments of production; or by a decrease in the price of
  the instruments of production; without a proportionate decrease
  in the price of produce。 What is absolutely necessary; is a
  greater relative cheapness of the instruments of production; to
  make up for the quantity of them required to obtain a given
  produce from poor land。
  But whenever; by the operation of one or more of the causes
  before mentioned; the instruments of production become cheaper;
  and the difference between the price of produce and the expenses
  of cultivation increases; rents naturally rise。 It follows
  therefore as a direct and necessary consequence; that it can
  never answer to take fresh land of a poorer quality into
  cultivation; till rents have risen or would allow of a rise; on
  what is already cultivated。
  It is equally true; that without the same tendency to a rise
  of rents; occasioned by the operation of the same causes; it
  cannot answer to lay out fresh capital in the improvement of old
  land … at least upon the supposition; that each farm is already
  furnished with as much capital as can be laid out to advantage;
  according to the actual rate of profits。
  It is only necessary to state this proposition to make its
  truth appear。 It certainly may happen; and I fear it happens
  frequently; that farmers are not provided with all the capital
  which could be employed upon their farms; at the actual rate of
  agricultural profits。 But supposing they are so provided; it
  implies distinctly; that more could not be applied without loss;
  till; by the operation of one or more of the causes above
  enumerated; rents had tended to rise。
  It appears then; that the power of extending cultivation and
  increasing produce; both by the cultivation of fresh land and the
  improvement of the old; depends entirely upon the existence of
  such prices; compared with the expense of production; as would
  raise rents in the actual state of cultivation。
  But though cultivation cannot be extended; and the produce of
  the country increased; but in such a state of things as would
  allow of a rise of rents; yet it is of importance to remark; that
  this rise of rents will be by no means in proportion to the
  extension of cultivation; or the increase of produce。 Every
  relativ