wealbk03-µÚ1ÕÂ
°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡û »ò ¡ú ¿É¿ìËÙÉÏÏ·ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉ쵀 Enter ¼ü¿É»Øµ½±¾ÊéĿ¼ҳ£¬°´¼üÅÌÉÏ·½Ïò¼ü ¡ü ¿É»Øµ½±¾Ò³¶¥²¿£¡
¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ªÎ´ÔĶÁÍꣿ¼ÓÈëÊéÇ©ÒѱãÏ´μÌÐøÔĶÁ£¡
AN¡¡INQUIRY¡¡INTO¡¡THE¡¡NATURE¡¡AND¡¡CAUSES¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡WEALTH¡¡OF¡¡NATIONS
by¡¡Adam¡¡Smith¡¡¡¡
1776
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡BOOK¡¡THREE¡¡¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡OF¡¡THE¡¡DIFFERENT¡¡PROGRESS¡¡OF¡¡OPULENCE¡¡IN¡¡DIFFERENT¡¡NATIONS
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Of¡¡the¡¡Natural¡¡Progress¡¡of¡¡Opulence¡¡
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡THE¡¡great¡¡commerce¡¡of¡¡every¡¡civilised¡¡society¡¡is¡¡that
carried¡¡on¡¡between¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the
country¡£¡¡It¡¡consists¡¡in¡¡the¡¡exchange¡¡of¡¡rude¡¡for¡¡manufactured
produce£»¡¡either¡¡immediately£»¡¡or¡¡by¡¡the¡¡intervention¡¡of¡¡money£»¡¡or
of¡¡some¡¡sort¡¡of¡¡paper¡¡which¡¡represents¡¡money¡£¡¡The¡¡country
supplies¡¡the¡¡town¡¡with¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡subsistence¡¡and¡¡the¡¡materials
of¡¡manufacture¡£¡¡The¡¡town¡¡repays¡¡this¡¡supply¡¡by¡¡sending¡¡back¡¡a
part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡manufactured¡¡produce¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the
country¡£¡¡The¡¡town£»¡¡in¡¡which¡¡there¡¡neither¡¡is¡¡nor¡¡can¡¡be¡¡any
reproduction¡¡of¡¡substances£»¡¡may¡¡very¡¡properly¡¡be¡¡said¡¡to¡¡gain¡¡its
whole¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡subsistence¡¡from¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡not£»
however£»¡¡upon¡¡this¡¡account£»¡¡imagine¡¡that¡¡the¡¡gain¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡is
the¡¡loss¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡£¡¡The¡¡gains¡¡of¡¡both¡¡are¡¡mutual¡¡and
reciprocal£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡division¡¡of¡¡labour¡¡is¡¡in¡¡this£»¡¡as¡¡in¡¡all
other¡¡cases£»¡¡advantageous¡¡to¡¡all¡¡the¡¡different¡¡persons¡¡employed
in¡¡the¡¡various¡¡occupations¡¡into¡¡which¡¡it¡¡is¡¡subdivided¡£¡¡The
inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡purchase¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡a¡¡greater
quantity¡¡of¡¡manufactured¡¡goods£»¡¡with¡¡the¡¡produce¡¡of¡¡a¡¡much
smaller¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡their¡¡own¡¡labour£»¡¡than¡¡they¡¡must¡¡have
employed¡¡had¡¡they¡¡attempted¡¡to¡¡prepare¡¡them¡¡themselves¡£¡¡The¡¡town
affords¡¡a¡¡market¡¡for¡¡the¡¡surplus¡¡produce¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡or¡¡what
is¡¡over¡¡and¡¡above¡¡the¡¡maintenance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cultivators£»¡¡and¡¡it¡¡is
there¡¡that¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡exchange¡¡it¡¡for
something¡¡else¡¡which¡¡is¡¡in¡¡demand¡¡among¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡greater¡¡the
number¡¡and¡¡revenue¡¡of¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡the¡¡more
extensive¡¡is¡¡the¡¡market¡¡which¡¡it¡¡affords¡¡to¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»
and¡¡the¡¡more¡¡extensive¡¡that¡¡market£»¡¡it¡¡is¡¡always¡¡the¡¡more
advantageous¡¡to¡¡a¡¡great¡¡number¡£¡¡The¡¡corn¡¡which¡¡grows¡¡within¡¡a
mile¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡sells¡¡there¡¡for¡¡the¡¡same¡¡price¡¡with¡¡that¡¡which
comes¡¡from¡¡twenty¡¡miles¡¡distance¡£¡¡But¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of¡¡the¡¡latter
must¡¡generally¡¡not¡¡only¡¡pay¡¡the¡¡expense¡¡of¡¡raising¡¡and¡¡bringing
it¡¡to¡¡market£»¡¡but¡¡afford£»¡¡too£»¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡profits¡¡of
agriculture¡¡to¡¡the¡¡farmer¡£¡¡The¡¡proprietors¡¡and¡¡cultivators¡¡of¡¡the
country£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡which¡¡lies¡¡in¡¡the¡¡neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»
over¡¡and¡¡above¡¡the¡¡ordinary¡¡profits¡¡of¡¡agriculture£»¡¡gain£»¡¡in¡¡the
price¡¡of¡¡what¡¡they¡¡sell£»¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡value¡¡of¡¡the¡¡carriage¡¡of¡¡the
like¡¡produce¡¡that¡¡is¡¡brought¡¡from¡¡more¡¡distant¡¡parts£»¡¡and¡¡they
have£»¡¡besides£»¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡value¡¡of¡¡this¡¡carriage¡¡in¡¡the¡¡price¡¡of
what¡¡they¡¡buy¡£¡¡Compare¡¡the¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡lands¡¡in¡¡the
neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡any¡¡considerable¡¡town¡¡with¡¡that¡¡of¡¡those¡¡which
lie¡¡at¡¡some¡¡distance¡¡from¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡will¡¡easily¡¡satisfy
yourself¡¡how¡¡much¡¡the¡¡country¡¡is¡¡benefited¡¡by¡¡the¡¡commerce¡¡of¡¡the
town¡£¡¡Among¡¡all¡¡the¡¡absurd¡¡speculations¡¡that¡¡have¡¡been¡¡propagated
concerning¡¡the¡¡balance¡¡of¡¡trade£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡never¡¡been¡¡pretended¡¡that
either¡¡the¡¡country¡¡loses¡¡by¡¡its¡¡commerce¡¡with¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡or¡¡the
town¡¡by¡¡that¡¡with¡¡the¡¡country¡¡which¡¡maintains¡¡it¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡As¡¡subsistence¡¡is£»¡¡in¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡things£»¡¡prior¡¡to
conveniency¡¡and¡¡luxury£»¡¡so¡¡the¡¡industry¡¡which¡¡procures¡¡the¡¡former
must¡¡necessarily¡¡be¡¡prior¡¡to¡¡that¡¡which¡¡ministers¡¡to¡¡the¡¡latter¡£
The¡¡cultivation¡¡and¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡which
affords¡¡subsistence£»¡¡must£»¡¡necessarily£»¡¡be¡¡prior¡¡to¡¡the¡¡increase
of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡which¡¡furnishes¡¡only¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡conveniency¡¡and
luxury¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡surplus¡¡produce¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡only£»¡¡or¡¡what¡¡is
over¡¡and¡¡above¡¡the¡¡maintenance¡¡of¡¡the¡¡cultivators£»¡¡that
constitutes¡¡the¡¡subsistence¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town£»¡¡which¡¡can¡¡therefore
increase¡¡only¡¡with¡¡the¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡this¡¡surplus¡¡produce¡£¡¡The
town£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡may¡¡not¡¡always¡¡derive¡¡its¡¡whole¡¡subsistence¡¡from
the¡¡country¡¡in¡¡its¡¡neighbourhood£»¡¡or¡¡even¡¡from¡¡the¡¡territory¡¡to
which¡¡it¡¡belongs£»¡¡but¡¡from¡¡very¡¡distant¡¡countries£»¡¡and¡¡this£»
though¡¡it¡¡forms¡¡no¡¡exception¡¡from¡¡the¡¡general¡¡rule£»¡¡has
occasioned¡¡considerable¡¡variations¡¡in¡¡the¡¡progress¡¡of¡¡opulence¡¡in
different¡¡ages¡¡and¡¡nations¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡That¡¡order¡¡of¡¡things¡¡which¡¡necessity¡¡imposes¡¡in¡¡general£»
though¡¡not¡¡in¡¡every¡¡particular¡¡country£»¡¡is£»¡¡in¡¡every¡¡particular
country£»¡¡promoted¡¡by¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡inclinations¡¡of¡¡man¡£¡¡If¡¡human
institutions¡¡had¡¡never¡¡thwarted¡¡those¡¡natural¡¡inclinations£»¡¡the
towns¡¡could¡¡nowhere¡¡have¡¡increased¡¡beyond¡¡what¡¡the¡¡improvement
and¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡territory¡¡in¡¡which¡¡they¡¡were¡¡situated
could¡¡support£»¡¡till¡¡such¡¡time£»¡¡at¡¡least£»¡¡as¡¡the¡¡whole¡¡of¡¡that
territory¡¡was¡¡completely¡¡cultivated¡¡and¡¡improved¡£¡¡Upon¡¡equal£»¡¡or
nearly¡¡equal¡¡profits£»¡¡most¡¡men¡¡will¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡employ¡¡their
capitals¡¡rather¡¡in¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡and¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡land¡¡than
either¡¡in¡¡manufactures¡¡or¡¡in¡¡foreign¡¡trade¡£¡¡The¡¡man¡¡who¡¡employs
his¡¡capital¡¡in¡¡land¡¡has¡¡it¡¡more¡¡under¡¡his¡¡view¡¡and¡¡command£»¡¡and
his¡¡fortune¡¡is¡¡much¡¡less¡¡liable¡¡to¡¡accidents¡¡than¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the
trader£»¡¡who¡¡is¡¡obliged¡¡frequently¡¡to¡¡commit¡¡it£»¡¡not¡¡only¡¡to¡¡the
winds¡¡and¡¡the¡¡waves£»¡¡but¡¡to¡¡the¡¡more¡¡uncertain¡¡elements¡¡of¡¡human
folly¡¡and¡¡injustice£»¡¡by¡¡giving¡¡great¡¡credits¡¡in¡¡distant¡¡countries
to¡¡men¡¡with¡¡whose¡¡character¡¡and¡¡situation¡¡he¡¡can¡¡seldom¡¡be
thoroughly¡¡acquainted¡£¡¡The¡¡capital¡¡of¡¡the¡¡landlord£»¡¡on¡¡the
contrary£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡fixed¡¡in¡¡the¡¡improvement¡¡of¡¡his¡¡land£»¡¡seems¡¡to
be¡¡as¡¡well¡¡secured¡¡as¡¡the¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡human¡¡affairs¡¡can¡¡admit¡¡of¡£
The¡¡beauty¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡besides£»¡¡the¡¡pleasures¡¡of¡¡a¡¡country
life£»¡¡the¡¡tranquillity¡¡of¡¡mind¡¡which¡¡it¡¡promises£»¡¡and¡¡wherever
the¡¡injustice¡¡of¡¡human¡¡laws¡¡does¡¡not¡¡disturb¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡independency
which¡¡it¡¡really¡¡affords£»¡¡have¡¡charms¡¡that¡¡more¡¡or¡¡less¡¡attract
everybody£»¡¡and¡¡as¡¡to¡¡cultivate¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡was¡¡the¡¡original
destination¡¡of¡¡man£»¡¡so¡¡in¡¡every¡¡stage¡¡of¡¡his¡¡existence¡¡he¡¡seems
to¡¡retain¡¡a¡¡predilection¡¡for¡¡this¡¡primitive¡¡employment¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡Without¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡some¡¡artificers£»¡¡indeed£»¡¡the
cultivation¡¡of¡¡land¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡carried¡¡on¡¡but¡¡with¡¡great
inconveniency¡¡and¡¡continual¡¡interruption¡£¡¡Smiths£»¡¡carpenters£»
wheelwrights£»¡¡and¡¡ploughwrights£»¡¡masons£»¡¡and¡¡bricklayers£»
tanners£»¡¡shoemakers£»¡¡and¡¡tailors¡¡are¡¡people¡¡whose¡¡service¡¡the
farmer¡¡has¡¡frequent¡¡occasion¡¡for¡£¡¡Such¡¡artificers£»¡¡too£»¡¡stand
occasionally¡¡in¡¡need¡¡of¡¡the¡¡assistance¡¡of¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡as
their¡¡residence¡¡is¡¡not£»¡¡like¡¡that¡¡of¡¡the¡¡farmer£»¡¡necessarily¡¡tied
down¡¡to¡¡a¡¡precise¡¡spot£»¡¡they¡¡naturally¡¡settle¡¡in¡¡the
neighbourhood¡¡of¡¡one¡¡another£»¡¡and¡¡thus¡¡form¡¡a¡¡small¡¡town¡¡or
village¡£¡¡The¡¡butcher£»¡¡the¡¡brewer£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡baker¡¡soon¡¡join¡¡them£»
together¡¡with¡¡many¡¡other¡¡artificers¡¡and¡¡retailers£»¡¡necessary¡¡or
useful¡¡for¡¡supplying¡¡their¡¡occasional¡¡wants£»¡¡and¡¡who¡¡contribute
still¡¡further¡¡to¡¡augment¡¡the¡¡town¡£¡¡The¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town
and¡¡those¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡are¡¡mutually¡¡the¡¡servants¡¡of¡¡one
another¡£¡¡The¡¡town¡¡is¡¡a¡¡continual¡¡fair¡¡or¡¡market£»¡¡to¡¡which¡¡the
inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡resort¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡exchange¡¡their¡¡rude
for¡¡manufactured¡¡produce¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡this¡¡commerce¡¡which¡¡supplies¡¡the
inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡town¡¡both¡¡with¡¡the¡¡materials¡¡of¡¡their¡¡work£»
and¡¡the¡¡means¡¡of¡¡their¡¡subsistence¡£¡¡The¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡finished
work¡¡which¡¡they¡¡sell¡¡to¡¡the¡¡inhabitants¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country
necessarily¡¡regulates¡¡the¡¡quantity¡¡of¡¡the¡¡materials¡¡and
provisions¡¡which¡¡they¡¡buy¡£¡¡Neither¡¡their¡¡employment¡¡nor
subsistence£»¡¡therefore£»¡¡can¡¡augment¡¡but¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡the
augmentation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡demand¡¡from¡¡the¡¡country¡¡for¡¡finished¡¡work£»
and¡¡this¡¡demand¡¡can¡¡augment¡¡only¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡the¡¡extension
of¡¡improvement¡¡and¡¡cultivation¡£¡¡Had¡¡human¡¡institutions£»
therefore£»¡¡never¡¡disturbed¡¡the¡¡natural¡¡course¡¡of¡¡things£»¡¡the
progressive¡¡wealth¡¡and¡¡increase¡¡of¡¡the¡¡towns¡¡would£»¡¡in¡¡every
political¡¡society£»¡¡be¡¡consequential£»¡¡and¡¡in¡¡proportion¡¡to¡¡the
improvement¡¡and¡¡cultivation¡¡of¡¡the¡¡territory¡¡or¡¡country¡£
¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡¡In¡¡our¡¡North¡¡American¡¡colonies£»¡¡where¡¡uncultivated¡¡land¡¡is
still¡¡to¡¡be¡¡had¡¡upon¡¡easy¡¡terms£»¡¡no¡¡manufactures¡¡for¡¡distant¡¡sale
have¡¡ever¡¡yet¡¡been¡¡established¡¡in¡¡any¡¡of¡¡their¡¡towns¡£¡¡When¡¡an
artificer¡¡has¡¡acquired¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡stock¡¡than¡¡is¡¡necessary¡¡for
carrying¡¡on¡¡his¡¡own¡¡business¡¡in¡¡supplying¡¡the¡¡neighbouring
country£»¡¡he¡¡does¡¡not£»¡¡in¡¡North¡¡Americ