list2-第10章
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The essential character of the natural law from which the
popular school explains such important phenomena in social economy;
is evidently not merely a division of labour; but a division of
different commercial operations between several individuals; and at
the same time a confederation or union of various energies;
intelligences; and powers on behalf of a common production。 The
cause of the productiveness of these operations is not merely that
division; but essentially this union。 Adam Smith well perceives
this himself when he states; 'The necessaries of life of the lowest
members of society are a product of joint labour and of the
co…operation of a number of individuals。'(1*) What a pity that he
did not follow out this idea (which he so clearly expresses) of
united labour。
If we continue to consider the example of the pin manufacture
adduced by Adam Smith in illustration of the advantages of division
of labour; and seek for the causes of the phenomenon that ten
persons united in that manufacture can produce an infinitely larger
number of pins than if every one carried on the entire pin
manufacture separately; we find that the division of commercial
operations without combination of the productive powers towards one
common object could but little further this production。
In order to create such a result; the different individuals
must co…operate bodily as well as mentally; and work together。 The
one who makes the heads of the pins must be certain of the co
operation of the one who makes the points if he does not want to
run the risk of producing pin heads in vain。 The labour operations
of all must be in the proper proportion to one another; the workmen
must live as near to one another as possible; and their
co…operation must be insured。 Let us suppose e。g。 that every one of
these ten workmen lives in a different country; how often might
their co…operation be interrupted by wars; interruptions of
transport; commercial crises; &c。; how greatly would the cost of
the product be increased; and consequently the advantage of the
division of operation diminished; and would not the separation or
secession of a single person from the union; throw all the others
out of work?
The popular school; because it has regarded the division of
operation alone as the essence of this natural law; has committed
the error of applying it merely to the separate manufactory or
farm; it has not perceived that the same law extends its action
especially over the whole manufacturing and agricultural power;
over the whole economy of the nation。
As the pin manufactory only prospers by the confederation of
the productive force of the individuals; so does every kind of
manufacture prosper only by the confederation of its productive
forces with those of all other kinds of manufacture。 For the
success of a machine manufactory; for instance; it is necessary
that the mines and metal works should furnish it with the necessary
materials; and that all the hundred different sorts of
manufactories which require machines; should buy their products
from it。 Without machine manufactories; a nation would in time of
war be exposed to the danger of losing the greater portion of its
manufacturing power。
In like manner the entire manufacturing industry of a State in
connection with its agricultural interest; and the latter in
connection with the former; will prosper the more the nearer they
are placed to one another; and the less they are interrupted in
their mutual exchanges with one another。 The advantages of their
confederation under one and the same political Power in times of
war; of national differences; of commercial crises; failure of
crops; &c。; are not less perceptible than are the advantages of the
union of the persons belonging to a pin manufactory under one and
the same roof。
Smith affirms that the division of labour is less applicable to
agriculture than to manufactures。(2*) Smith had in view only the
separate manufactory and the separate farm。 He has; however;
neglected to extend his principle over whole districts and
provinces。 Nowhere has the division of commercial operations and
the confederation of the productive powers greater influence than
where every district and every province is in a position to devote
itself exclusively; or at least chiefly; to those branches of
agricultural production for which they are mostly fitted by nature。
In one district corn and hops chiefly thrive; in another vines and
fruit; in a third timber production and cattle rearing; &c。 If
every district is devoted to all these branches of production; it
is clear that its labour and its land cannot be nearly so
productive as if every separate district were devoted mainly to
those branches of production for which it is specially adapted by
nature; and as if it exchanged the surplus of its own special
products for the surplus produce of those provinces which in the
production of other necessaries of life and raw materials possess
a natural advantage equally peculiar to themselves。 This division
of commercial operations; this confederation of the productive
forces occupied in agriculture; can only take place in a country
which has attained the greatest development of all branches of
manufacturing industry; for in such a country only can a great
demand for the greatest variety of products exist; or the demand
for the surplus of agricultural productions be so certain and
considerable that the producer can feel certain of disposing of any
quantity of his surplus produce during this or at least during next
year at suitable prices; in such a country only can considerable
capital be devoted to speculation in the produce of the country and
holding stocks of it; or great improvements in transport; such as
canals and railway systems; lines of steamers; improved roads; be
carried out profitably; and only by means of thoroughly good means
of transport can every district or province convey the surplus of
its peculiar products to all other provinces; even to the most
distant ones; and procure in return supplies of the peculiar
products of the latter。 Where everybody supplies himself with what
he requires; there is but little opportunity for exchange; and
therefore no need for costly facilities of transport。
We may notice how the augmentation of the powers of production
in consequence of the separation of occupations and the
co…operation of the powers of individuals begins in the separate
manufactory and extends to the united nation。 The manufactory
prospers so much the more in proportion as the commercial
operations are divided; the more closely the workmen are united;
and the more the co…operation of each person is insured for the
whole。 The productive powers of every separate manufactory are also
increased in proportion as the whole manufacturing power of the
country is developed in all its branches; and the more intimately
it is united with all other branches of industry。 The agricultural
power of production is so much greater the more intimately a
manufacturing power developed in all its branches is united
locally; commercially; and politically with agriculture。 In
proportion as the manufacturing power is thus developed will the
division of the commercial operations and the co…operation of the
productive powers in agriculture also develop themselves and be
raised to the highest stage of perfection。 That nation will
therefore possess most productive po