第13章

类别:其他 作者:John K. Ingram字数:12540更新时间:18/12/18 13:38:00
Treating,inthefirstpart,oftheinfluenceofexternalconditions,ofrace,andofcultureonlibertyinthiswidersense,he proceedstodivideallproductiveeffortintotwogreatclasses,accordingastheactionisexercisedonthingsoronmen,and censurestheeconomistsforhavingrestrictedtheirattentiontotheformer。Hestudiesinhissecondandthirdparts respectivelytheconditionsoftheefficiencyofthesetwoformsofhumanexertion。Intreatingofeconomiclife,strictlyso called,heintroduceshisfourfolddivisionofmaterialindustry,inpartadoptedbyJ。S。Mill,as\"(1)extractive,(2)voiturière, (3)manufacturièure,(4)agricole,\"adivisionwhichisusefulforphysicaleconomics,butwillalways,whenthelargersocial aspectofthingsisconsidered,beinferiortothemorecommonlyacceptedoneintoagricultural,manufacturing,and commercialindustry,bankingbeingsupposedascommonpresidentandregulator。Dunoyer,havinginviewonlyactionon materialobjects,relegatesbanking,aswellascommerceproper,totheseparateheadofexchange,which,alongwith associationandgratuitoustransmission(whetherintervivosormortiscausa),heclassesapartasbeing,notindustries,inthe samesensewiththeoccupationsnamed,butyetfunctionsessentialtothesocialeconomy。Theindustrieswhichactonman hedividesaccordingastheyoccupythemselveswith(1)theameliorationofourphysicalnature,(2)thecultureofour imaginationandsentiments,(3)theeducationofourintelligence,and(4)theimprovementofourmoralhabits;andhe proceedsaccordinglytostudythesocialofficesofthephysician,theartist,theeducator,andthepriest。WemeetinDunoyer theideasafterwardsemphasisedbyBastiatthattherealsubjectsofhumanexchangeareservices;thatallvalueisdueto humanactivity;thatthepowersofnaturealwaysrenderagratuitousassistancetothelabourofmanandthattherentofland isreallyaformofinterestoninvestedcapital。Thoughhehaddisclaimedthetaskofapracticaladviserintheoften—quoted sentence\"Jen’imposerien;jeneproposemêmerien;j’exposé,\"hefindshimself,likealleconomists,unabletoabstainfrom offeringcounsel。Andhispolicyisopposedtoanystateinterferencewithindustry。Indeedhepreachesinitsextremerigour thelaisserfairedoctrine,whichhemaintainsprincipallyonthegroundthatthespontaneouseffortsoftheindividualforthe improvementofhiscondition,bydevelopingforesight,energy,andperseverance,arethemostefficientmeansofsocial culture。ButhecertainlygoestoofarwhenherepresentstheactionofGovernmentsasnormallyalwaysrepressiveandnever directive。Hewasdoubtlessledintothisexaggerationbyhisoppositiontotheartificialorganizationsoflabourproposedby somanyofhiscontemporaries,againstwhichhehadtovindicatetheprincipleofcompetition;buthiscriticismofthese schemestook,asComteremarks,tooabsoluteacharacter,tendingtotheperpetualinterdictionofatruesystematisationof industry。(64) AMERICA AtthispointitwillbeconvenienttoturnasideandnoticethedoctrinesoftheAmericaneconomistCarey。Notmuchhad beendonebeforehiminthesciencebycitizensoftheUnitedStates。BenjaminFranklin,otherwiseofworld—widerenown, wasauthorofanumberoftracts,inmostofwhichhemerelyenforcespracticallessonsofindustryandthrift,butinsome throwsoutinterestingtheoreticideas。Thus,fiftyyearsbeforeSmith,hesuggested(asPetty,however,hadalreadydone) humanlabourasthetruemeasureofvalue(ModestInquiryintotheNatureandNecessityofaPaperCurrency,1721),and inhisObservationsconcerningtheIncreaseofMankind(1751)heexpressesviewsakintothoseofMalthus。Alexander Hamilton,secretaryofthetreasury,in1791presentedinhisofficialcapacitytotheHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnited StatesaReportonthemeasuresbywhichhomemanufacturescouldbepromoted。(65)Inthisdocumenthegivesacritical accountofthetheoryofthesubject,representsSmith’ssystemoffreetradeaspossibleinpracticeonlyifadoptedbyall nationssimultaneously,ascribestomanufacturesagreaterproductivenessthantoagriculture,andseekstorefutethe objectionsagainstthedevelopmentoftheformerinAmericafoundedonthewantofcapital,thehighrateofwages,andthe lowpriceofland。TheconclusionatwhichhearrivesisthatforthecreationofAmericanmanufacturesasystemofmoderate protectivedutieswasnecessary,andheproceedstodescribetheparticularfeaturesofsuchasystem。Thereissomereason tobelievethattheGermaneconomistList,ofwhomweshallspeakhereafter,wasinfluencedbyHamilton’swork,having, duringhisexilefromhisnativecountry,residedintheUnitedStates。 HenryCharlesCarey(17931879),sonofanAmericancitizenwhohademigratedfromIreland,representsareaction againstthedispiritingcharacterwhichtheSmithiandoctrineshadassumedinthehandsofMalthusandRicardo。Hisaim was,whilstadheringtotheindividualisticeconomy,toplaceitonahigherandsurerbasis,andfortifyitagainsttheassaults ofsocialism,towhichsomeoftheRicardiantenetshadexposedit。Themostcomprehensiveaswellasmatureexpositionof hisviewsiscontainedinhisPrinciplesofSocialScience(1859)。Inspiredwiththeoptimisticsentimentnaturaltoayoung andrisingnationwithabundantundevelopedresourcesandanunboundedoutlooktowardsthefuture,heseekstoshowthat thereexists,independentlyofhumanwills,anaturalsystemofeconomiclaws,whichisessentiallybeneficent,andofwhich theincreasingprosperityofthewholecommunity,andespeciallyoftheworkingclasses,isthespontaneousresult,capable ofbeingdefeatedonlybytheignoranceorperversityofmanresistingorimpedingitsaction。HerejectstheMalthusian doctrineofpopulation,maintainingthatnumbersregulatethem—selvessufficientlyineverywell—governedsociety,andthat theirpressureonsubsistencecharacterisesthelower,notthemoreadvanced,stagesofcivilization。Herightlydeniesthe universaltruth,forallstagesofcultivation,ofthelawofdiminishingreturnsfromland。Hisfundamentaltheoreticposition relatestotheantithesisofwealthandvalue。 Wealthhadbeenbymosteconomistsconfoundedwiththesumofexchangevalues;evenSmith,thoughatfirst distinguishingthem,afterwardsallowedhimselftofallintothiserror。Ricardohad,indeed,pointedoutthedifference,but onlytowardstheendofhistreatise,inthebodyofwhichvaluealoneisconsidered。ThelaterEnglisheconomistshadtended toregardtheirstudiesasconversantonlywithexchange;sofarhadthisproceededthatWhatelyhadproposedforthe sciencethenameofCatallactics。Whenwealthisconsideredaswhatitreallyis,thesumofusefulproducts,weseethatit hasitsorigininexternalnatureassupplyingbothmaterialsandphysicalforces,andinhumanlabourasappropriatingand adaptingthosenaturalmaterialsandforces。Naturegivesherassistancegratuitously;labouristhesolefoundationofvalue。 Thelesswecanappropriateandemploynaturalforcesinanyproductionthehigherthevalueoftheproduct,butthelessthe additiontoourwealthinproportiontothelabourexpended。Wealth,initstruesenseofthesumofusefulthings,isthe measureofthepowerwehaveacquiredovernature,whilstthevalueofanobjectexpressestheresistanceofnaturewhich labourhastoovercomeinordertoproducetheobject。Wealthsteadilyincreasesinthecourseofsocialprogress;the exchangevalueofobjects,ontheotherhand,decreases。Humanintellectandfacultyofsocialcombinationsecureincreased commandovernaturalpowers,andusethemmorelargelyinproduction,whilstlesslabourisspentinachievingeachresult, andthevalueoftheproductaccordinglyfalls。ThevalueofthearticleisnotfixedbyitsCostofproductioninthepast;what reallydeterminesitisthecostwhichisnecessaryforitsreproductionunderthepresentconditionsofknowledgeandskill。 Thedependenceofvalueoncost,sointerpreted,Careyholdstobeuniversallytrue;whilstRicardomaintaineditonlywith respecttoobjectscapableofindefinitemultiplication,andinparticulardidnotregarditasapplicabletothecaseofland。 Ricardosawintheproductivepowersoflandafreegiftofnaturewhichhadbeenmonopolisedbyacertainnumberof persons,andwhichbecame,withtheincreaseddemandforfood,alargerandlargervalueinthehandsofitspossessors。To thisvalue,however,asnotbeingtheresultoflabour,theowner,itmightbemaintained,hadnorightfulclaim;hecouldnot justlydemandapaymentforwhatwasdonebythe\"originalandindestructiblepowersofthesoil。\"ButCareyheldthatland, asweareconcernedwithitinindustriallife,isreallyaninstrumentofproductionwhichhasbeenformedassuchbyman, andthatitsvalueisduetothelabourexpendedonitinthepast,thoughmeasured,notbythesumofthatlabour,butbythe labournecessaryunderexistingconditionstobringnewlandtothesamestageofproductiveness。Hestudiestheoccupation andreclamationoflandwithpeculiaradvantageasanAmerican,forwhomthetraditionsoffirstsettlementarelivingand fresh,andbeforewhoseeyestheprocessisindeedstillgoingon。Thedifficultiesofadaptingaprimitivesoiltotheworkof yieldingorganicproductsforman’susecanbelightlyestimatedonlybyaninhabitantofacountrylongundercultivation。It is,inCarey’sview,theovercomingofthesedifficultiesbyarduousandcontinuedeffortthatentitlesthefirstoccupierofland tohispropertyinthesoil。Itspresentvalueformsaverysmallproportionofthecostexpendedonit,becauseitrepresents onlywhatwouldberequired,withthescienceandappliancesofourtime,tobringthelandfromitsprimitiveintoitspresent state。Propertyinlandisthereforeonlyaformofinvestedcapitalaquantityoflabourorthefruitsoflabourpermanently incorporatedwiththesoil;forwhich,likeanyothercapitalist,theowneriscompensatedbyashareoftheproduce。Heisnot rewardedforwhatisdonebythepowersofnature,andsocietyisinnosensedefraudedbyhissolepossession。The so—calledRicardiantheoryofrentisaspeculativefancy,contradictedbyallexperience。Cultivationdoesnotinfact,asthat theorysupposes,beginwiththebest,andmovedownwardstothepoorersoilsintheorderoftheirinferiority。(66)Thelight anddryhigherlandsarefirstcultivated;andonlywhenpopulationhasbecomedenseandcapitalhasaccumulated,arethe low—lyinglands,withtheirgreaterfertility,butalsowiththeirmorasses,inundations,andmiasmas,attackedandbrought intooccupation。Rent,regardedasaproportionoftheproduce,sinks,likeallinterestoncapital,inprocessoftime,but,as anabsoluteamount,increases。Theshareofthelabourerincreases,bothasaproportionandanabsoluteamount。Andthus theinterestofthesedifferentsocialclassesareinharmony。 But,Careyproceedstosay,inorderthatthisharmoniousprogressmayberealised,whatistakenfromthelandmustbe givenbacktoit。Allthearticlesderivedfromitarereallyseparatedpartsofit,whichmustberestoredonpainofits exhaustion。Hencetheproducerandtheconsumermustbeclosetoeachother;theproductsmustnotbeexportedtoa foreigncountryinexchangeforitsmanufactures,andthusgotoenrichasmanureaforeignsoil。Inimmediateexchange valuethelandownermaygainbysuchexportation,buttheproductivepowersofthelandwillsuffer。AndthusCarey,who hadsetoutasanearnestadvocateoffreetrade,arrivesatthedoctrineofprotection:the\"co—ordinatingpower\"insociety mustintervenetopreventprivateadvantagefromworkingpublicmischief。(67)Heattributeshisconversiononthequestionto hisobservationoftheeffectsofliberalandprotectivetariffsrespectivelyonAmericanprosperity。Thisobservation,hesays, threwhimbackontheory,andledhimtoseethattheinterventionreferredtomightbenecessarytoremove(ashephrases it)theobstaclestotheprogressofyoungercommunitiescreatedbytheactionofolderandwealthiernations。Butitseems probablethattheinfluenceofList’swritings,addedtohisowndeep—rootedandhereditaryjealousyanddislikeofEnglish predominance,hadsomethingtodowithhischangeofattitude。 Thepracticalconclusionatwhichhethusarrived,thoughitisbynomeansincontradictiontothedoctrineoftheexistence ofnaturaleconomiclaws,accordsbutillwithhisoptimisticscheme;andanothereconomist,FredericBastiat,acceptinghis fundamentalideas,appliedhimselftoremovetheforeignaccretion,asheregardedit,andtopreachthetheoryof spontaneoussocialharmoniesinrelationwiththepracticeoffreetradeasitslegitimateoutcome。(68)FRANCE(continued) Bastiat(1801—1850),thoughnotaprofoundthinker,wasabrilliantandpopularwriteroneconomicquestions。Thoughhe alwayshadaninclinationforsuchstudies,hewasfirstimpelledtotheactivepropagationofhisviewsbyhisearnest sympathywiththeEnglishanti—corn—lawagitation。Naturallyofanardenttemperament,hethrewhimselfwithzealintothe free—tradecontroversy,throughwhichhehopedtoinfluenceFrencheconomicpolicy,andpublishedin1845ahistoryofthe struggleunderthetitleofCobdenetLaLigue。In184548appearedhisSophismeséconomiques(Eng。trans。byG。R。 Porter,1849,andbyP。J。Stirling,1873),inwhichheexhibitedhisbestqualitiesofmind。ThoughCairnesgoestoofarin comparingthisworkwiththeLettresProvinciales,itiscertainlymarkedbymuchliveliness,point,andvigour。Butto exposetheabsurditiesoftheordinaryprotectionismwasnodifficulttask;itisonlyinsuchaformasthepolicyassumedin theschemeofList,aspurelyprovisionalandpreparatory,thatitdeservesanddemandsconsideration。Aftertherevolution of1848,whichforatimeputanendtothefree—trademovementinFrance,theeffortsofBastiatweredirectedagainstthe socialists。BesidesseveralminorpiecespossessingthesamesortofmeritastheSophismes,heproduced,withaviewtothis controversy,hismostambitiousaswellascharacteristicwork,theHarmoniesÉconomiques(Eng。trans。byP。J。Stirling, 1860)。Onlythefirstvolumewaspublished;itappearedin1850,anditsauthordiedinthesameyear。Sincethenthenotes andsketcheswhichhehadpreparedsmaterialstowardstheproductionofthesecondvolumehavebeengiventothepublic inthecollectededitionofhiswritings(byPaillottet,withLifebyFontenay,7vols。),andwecanthusgatherwhatwould havebeenthespiritandsubstanceofthelaterportionsofthebook。 Itwillalwaysbehistoricallyinterestingasthelastincarnationofthoroughgoingeconomicoptimism。Thisoptimism, recurringtoitsfirstorigin,setsoutfromtheologicalconsiderations,andBastiatiscommendedbyhisEnglishtranslatorfor treatingpoliticaleconomy\"inconnectionwithfinalcauses。\"Thespiritoftheworkistorepresent\"allprinciples,allmotives, allspringsofaction,allinterests,asco—operatingtowardsagrandfinalresultwhichhumanitywillneverreach,buttowhich itwillalwaysincreasinglytend,namely,theindefiniteapproximationofallclassestowardsalevel,whichsteadilyrises,in otherwords,theequalisationofindividualsinthegeneralamelioration。\" Whatclaimedtobenovelandpeculiarinhisschemewasprincipallyhistheoryofvalue。Insistingontheideathatvaluedoes notdenoteanythinginherentintheobjectstowhichitisattributed,heendeavouredtoshowthatitneversignifiesanything buttheratiooftwo\"services。’’Thisviewhedevelopswithgreatvarietyandfelicityofillustration。Onlythemutualservices ofhumanbeings,accordingtohim,possess—valueandcanclaimaretribution;theassistancegivenbynaturetotheworkof productionisalwayspurelygratuitous,andneverentersintoprice。Economicprogress,as,forexample,theimprovement andlargeruseofmachinery,tendsperpetuallytotransfermoreandmoreoftheelementsofutilityfromthedomainof property,andthereforeofvalue,intothatofcommunity,orofuniversalandunpurchasedenjoyment。Itwillbeobservedthat thistheoryissubstantiallyidenticalwithCarey’s,whichhadbeenearlierpropounded;andthelatterauthorinsomanywords allegesittohavebeentakenfromhimwithoutacknowledgment。Ithasnotperhapsbeensufficientlyattendedtothatvery similarviewsarefoundinDunoyer,ofwhoseworkBastiatspokeasexercisingapowerfulinfluenceon\"therestorationof thescience,\"andwhomFontenay,thebiographerofBastiat,tellsusherecognisedasoneofhismasters,CharlesComte(69)beingtheother。 Themodewhichhasjustbeenexplainedofconceivingindustrialactionandindustrialprogressisinterestingandinstructive sofarasitisreallyapplicable,butitwasundulygeneralised。CairneshaswellpointedoutthatBastiat’stheoreticsoundness wasinjuriouslyaffectedbyhishabitofstudyingdoctrineswithadirectviewtocontemporarysocialandpolitical controversies。Hewasthuspredisposedtoacceptviewswhichappearedtolendasanctiontolegitimateandvaluable institutions,andtorejectthosewhichseemedtohimtoleadtodangerousconsequences。Hisconstantaimis,ashehimself expressedit,to\"breaktheweapons\"ofanti—socialreasoners\"intheirhands,\"andthispreoccupationinterfereswiththe single—mindedefforttowardstheattainmentofscientifictruth。Thecreationoradoptionofhistheoryofvaluewasinspired bythewishtomeetthesocialisticcriticismofpropertyinland;fortheexigenciesofthiscontroversyitwasdesirabletobe abletoshowthatnothingiseverpaidforexceptpersonaleffort。Hisviewofrentwas,therefore,sotospeak,fore— ordained,thoughitmayhavebeensuggested,asindeedtheeditorofhisposthumousfragmentsadmitsbythewritingsof Carey。Heheld,withtheAmericanauthor,thatrentispurelytherewardofthepainsandexpenditureofthelandlordorhis predecessorsintheprocessofconvertingthenaturalsoilintoafarmbyclearing,draining,fencing,andtheotherspeciesof permanentimprovements。(70)Hethusgetsridofthe(so—called)Ricardiandoctrine,whichwasacceptedbythesocialists,and bythemusedforthepurposeofassailingtheinstitutionoflandedproperty,or,atleast,ofsupportingaclaimof compensationtothecommunityfortheappropriationofthelandbytheconcessionofthe\"righttolabour。\"AsCairneshas said,(71)\"whatBastiatdidwasthis:havingbeenatinfinitepainstoexcludegratuitousgiftsofnaturefromthepossible elementsofvalue,andpointedlyidentified\"[rather,associated]\"thephenomenonwith`humaneffort’asitsexclusivesource, hedesignateshumaneffortbytheterm`service,’andthenemploysthistermtoadmitassourcesofvaluethosevery gratuitousnaturalgiftstheexclusionofwhichinthiscapacityconstitutedtheessenceofhisdoctrine。\"Thejusticeofthis criticismwillbeapparenttoanyonewhoconsidersthewayinwhichBastiattreatsthequestionofthevalueofadiamond。 Thatwhatispaidforinmostcasesofhumandealingsiseffortnoonecandispute。Butitissurelyareductioadabsurdumof histheoryofvalue,regardedasadoctrineofuniversalapplication,torepresentthepriceofadiamondwhichhasbeen accidentallyfoundasremunerationfortheeffortofthefinderinappropriatingandtransmittingit。And,withrespecttoland, whilstalargepartofrent,inthepopularsense,mustbeexplainedasinterestoncapital,itisplainthatthenativepowersof thesoilarecapableofappropriation,andthatthenapricecanbedemandedandwillbepaidfortheiruse。 Bastiatisweakonthephilosophicalside;heisfilledwiththeideasoftheologicalteleology,andisledbytheseideastoform aprioriopinionsofwhatexistingfactsandlawsmustnecessarilybe。Andthejusnature,which,likemetaphysicalideas generally,hasitsrootintheology,isasmuchapostulatewithhimaswiththephysiocrats。Thus,inhisessayonFreeTrade, hesays:\"Exchangeisanaturalrightlikeproperty。Everycitizenwhohascreatedoracquiredaproductoughttohavethe optionofeitherapplyingitimmediatelytohisownuseorcedingittowhosoeveronthesurfaceoftheglobeconsentsto givehiminexchangetheobjectofhisdesires。\"SomethingofthesamesorthadbeensaidbyTurgot;andinhistimethisway ofregardingthingswasexcusable,andevenprovisionallyuseful;butinthemiddleofthe19thcenturyitwastimethatit shouldbeseenthroughandabandonedBastiathadarealenthusiasmforasciencewhichhethoughtdestinedtorendergreatservicestomankind,andheseemsto havebelievedintenselythedoctrineswhichgaveaspecialcolourtohisteaching。Ifhisoptimisticexaggerationsfavouredthe propertiedclasses,theycertainlywerenotpromptedbyself—interestorservility。Buttheyareexaggerations;and,amidstthe modernconflictsofcapitalandlabour,hisperpetualassertionofsocialharmoniesisthecryof\"peace,peace,\"wherethereis nopeace。Thefreedomofindustry,whichhetreatedasapanacea,hasundoubtedlybroughtwithitgreatbenefits;buta sufficientexperiencehasshownthatitisinadequatetosolvethesocialproblem。Howcantheadvocatesofeconomic revolutionbemetbyassuringthemthateverythinginthenaturaleconomyisharmoniousthat,infact,alltheyseekfor alreadyexists?Acertaindegreeofspontaneousharmonydoesindeedexist,forsocietycouldnotcontinuewithoutit,butit isimperfectandprecarious;thequestionis,Howcanwegivetoitthemaximumofcompletenessandstability? AugustinCournot(18011877)appearstohavebeenthefirst(72)who,withacompetentknowledgeofbothsubjects, endeavouredtoapplymathematicstothetreatmentofeconomicquestions。HistreatiseentitledRecherchessurlesPrincipes MathématiquesdeLaThéoriedesRichesseswaspublishedin1838。Hementionsinitonlyonepreviousenterpriseofthe samekind(thoughtherehadinfactbeenothers)that,namely,ofNicolasFrançoisCanard,whosebook,publishedin1802, wascrownedbytheInstitute,though\"itsprincipleswereradicallyfalseaswellaserroneouslyapplied。\"Notwithstanding Cournot’sjustreputationasawriteronmathematics,theRecherchesmadelittleimpression。Thetruthseemstobethathis resultsareinsomecasesoflittleimportance,inothersofquestionablecorrectness,andthat,intheabstractionstowhichhe hasrecourseinordertofacilitatehiscalculations,anessentialpartoftherealconditionsoftheproblemissometimes omitted。Hispagesaboundinsymbolsrepresentingunknownfunctions,theformofthefunctionbeinglefttobeascertained byobservationoffacts,whichhedoesnotregardasapartofhistask,oronlysomeknownpropertiesoftheundetermined functionbeingusedasbasesfordeduction。Jevonsincludesinhislistofworksinwhichamathematicaltreatmentof economicsisadoptedasecondtreatisewhichCournotpublishedin1863,withthetitlePrincipesdeLaThéoriedes Richesses。Butinreality,intheworksonamed,whichiswrittenwithgreatability,andcontainsmuchforciblereasoningin oppositiontotheexaggerationsoftheordinaryeconomists,themathematicalmethodisabandoned,andthereisnotan algebraicalformulainthebook。Theauthoradmitsthatthepublichasalwaysshownarepugnancetotheuseof mathematicalsymbolsineconomicdiscussion,and,thoughhethinkstheymightbeofserviceinfacilitatingexposition,fixing theideas,andsuggestingfurtherdevelopments,heacknowledgesthatagravedangerattendstheiruse。Thedanger, accordingtohim,consistsintheprobabilitythatanunduevaluemaybeattachedtotheabstracthypothesesfromwhichthe investigatorsetsout,andwhichenablehimtoconstructhisformulae。Andhispracticalconclusionisthatmathematical processesshouldbeemployedonlywithgreatprecaution,orevennotemployedatallifthepublicjudgmentisagainstthem, for\"thisjudgment,\"hesays,\"hasitssecretreasons,almostalwaysmoresurethanthosewhichdeterminetheopinionsof individuals。\"Itisanobviousconsiderationthattheacceptanceofunsoundorone—sidedabstractprinciplesasthepremisesof argumentdoesnotdependontheuseofmathematicalforms,thoughitispossiblethattheemploymentofthelattermayby associationproduceanillusioninfavourofthecertaintyofthosepremises。Butthegreatobjectiontotheuseofmathematics ineconomicreasoningisthatitisnecessarilysterile。Ifweexaminetheattemptswhichhavebeenmadetoemployit,we shallfindthatthefundamentalconceptionsonwhichthedeductionsaremadetorestarevague,indeedmetaphysical,intheir character。Unitsofanimalormoralsatisfaction,ofutility,andthelike,areasforeigntopositivescienceasaunitof normativefacultywouldbe;andaunitofvalue,unlessweunderstandbyvaluethequantityofonecommodityexchangeable undergivenconditionsforanother,isanequallyindefiniteidea。Mathematicscanindeedformulateratiosofexchangewhen theyhaveoncebeenobserved;butitcannotbyanyprocessofitsowndeterminethoseratios,forquantitativeconclusions implyquantitativepremises,andthesearewanting。Thereisthennofutureforthiskindofstudy,anditisonlywasteof intellectualpowertopursueit。Buttheimportanceofmathematicsasaneducationalintroductiontoallthehigherordersof researchisnotaffectedbythisconclusion。Thestudyofthephysicalmedium,orenvironment,inwhicheconomic phenomenatakeplace,andbywhichtheyareaffected,requiresmathematicsasaninstrument;andnothingcaneverdispense withthedidacticefficacyofthatscience,assupplyingtheprimordialtypeofrationalinvestigation,givingthelively sentimentofdecisiveproof,anddisincliningthemindtoillusoryconceptionsandsophisticalcombinations。Andaknowledge ofatleastthefundamentalprinciplesofmathematicsisnecessarytoeconomiststokeepthemrightintheirstatementsof doctrine,andpreventtheirenunciatingpropositionswhichhavenodefinitemeaning。Evendistinguishedwriterssometimes betrayaseriousdeficiencyinthisrespect;thustheyassertthatonequantity\"variesinverselyas\"another,whenwhatis meantisthatthesum(nottheproduct)ofthetwoisconstant;andtheytreatascapableofnumericalestimationtheamount ofanaggregateofelementswhich,differinginkind,cannotbereducedtoacommonstandard。Asanexampleofthelatter error,itmaybementionedthat\"quantityoflabour,\"sooftenspokenofbyRicardo,andinfactmadethebasisofhissystem, includessuchvariousspeciesofexertionaswillnotadmitofsummationorcomparison。 ITALY ThefirstItaliantranslationoftheWealthofNationsappearedin1780。ThemostdistinguishedItalianeconomistofthe periodheredealtwithwas,however,nodiscipleofSmith。ThiswasMelehiorreGioja,author,besidesstatisticalandother writings,ofavoluminousworkentitledNuovoProspettodelleScienzeEconomiche(6vols。,181517;theworkwasnever completed),intendedtobeanencyclopaediaofallthathadbeentaughtbytheorists,enactedbyGovernments,oreffectedby populationsinthefieldofpublicandprivateeconomyItisalearnedandabletreatise,butsooverladenwithquotationsand tablesastorepelratherthanattractreaders。GiojaadmiredthepracticaleconomicsystemofEngland,andenlargesonthe advantagesofterritorialproperties,manufactures,andmercantileenterprisesonthelargeasopposedtothesmallscale。He defendsarestrictivepolicy,andinsistsonthenecessityoftheactionofthestateasaguiding,supervising,andregulating powerintheindustria]world。Butheisinfullsympathywiththesentimentofhisageagainstecclesiasticaldominationand othermediaevalsurvivals。WecanbutverybrieflynoticeRomagnosi(d。1835),who,byhiscontributionstoperiodical literature,andbyhispersonalteaching,greatlyinfluencedthecourseofeconomicthoughtinItaly;AntonioScialoja (Principiid’EconomiaSociale,1840;andCarestiaeGoverno,1853),anableadvocateoffreetrade(d。1877)Luigi Cibrario,wellknownastheauthorofEconomiaPoliticadelmedicevo(1839;5thed。,1861:Frenchtrans。byBarneaud, 1859),whichisinfactaviewofthewholesocialsystemofthatperiod;GirolamoBoccardo(b。1829;Trattato Teorico—praticodiEconomiaPolitica,1853);