Principles of Political Economy, Vol. 2Roscher, Wilhelm
General
Principles of Political Economy, Vol. 2
Roscher, Wilhelm
Economics
[Footnote 220-4: In the construction of national buildings,
etc., we have the following course of things: compulsory
contributions made by taxpayers, or an invitation to the
national creditors to desist somewhat from their usual
amount of consumption, and to employ what is saved in the
building of canals, roads etc. In France, for instance,
after 1835, 100,000,000 francs per annum. (_M. Chevalier_,
Cours, I, 109.) The higher and middle classes of England
saved, not without much trouble, however, between 1844 and
1858, £134,500,000 in behalf of railway construction.
_Tooke-Newmarch_.]
[Footnote 220-5: Such savings have sometimes been prescribed
by the state. In ancient Athens many prohibitions of
consumption in order to allow the productive capital to
first attain a certain height. Thus it was forbidden to
slaughter sheep until they had lambed, or before they were
shorn. (_Athen._, IX, 375, I. 9.) Similarly the old
prohibition of the exportation of figs. (Ibid., III, 74.)
Compare Petit. Leges. Atticae, V, 3. _Boeckh_,
Staatshaushaltung, I, 62 seq.]
[Footnote 220-6: The process of the transformation of
savings from a money-income, in a money-economy
(_Geldwirthschaft_), into other products, more closely
analyzed in _v. Mangoldt_, V. W. L., 152 ff.]
SECTION CCXXI.
LIMITS TO THE SAVING OF CAPITAL.
It may be seen from the foregoing, that the mere saving of capital, if
the nation is to be really enriched thereby, has its limits. Every
consumer likes to extend his consumption-supply and his capital in use
(_Gebrauchskapitalien_); but not beyond a certain point.[221-1] Besides,
as trade becomes more flourishing, smaller stores answer the same
purpose. And no intelligent man can desire his productive capital
increased except up to the limit that he expects a larger market for his
enlarged production. What merchant or manufacturer is there who would
rejoice or consider himself enriched, if the number of his customers and
their desire to purchase remaining the same, he saw his stores of
unsaleable articles increase every year by several thousands?
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