リカード「経済学原理」を歩く-79 外国貿易-2
【コメント】利益率均等の法則の説明が続く・・・
(訳)
外国貿易で特定の商人が大きな利益を上げる場合がある。それは、その国の一般的な利益率を高め、他の用途から、新しく有利な用途に資本が転用されるだろう。一般的な価格は上昇し、その結果、利益を増加させるだろう。穀物の生育、布、帽子、靴その他の製造に投下される資本が減る一方、需要が同じだと、それらの商品価格は上昇し、農業者、帽子、布、靴の製造業者は、貿易商社と同じように利益を増加させることができる。異なる用途に用いられた資本は、一般的な利益率に収束する傾向を持つ。利益の均等は一般的な利益の上昇によってもたらされるのではなく、より高い利益率の取引が一般的な水準に落ち着くのである。この点で、わたしの主張は多くの論者とは異なっている。
(original text)
It has indeed been contended, that the great profits which are sometimes made by particular merchants in foreign trade, will elevate the general rate of profits in the country, and that the abstraction of capital from other employments, to partake of the new and beneficial foreign commerce, will raise prices generally, and thereby increase profits. It has been said, by high authority, that less capital being necessarily devoted to the growth of corn, to the manufacture of cloth, hats, shoes, &c. while the demand continues the same, the price of these commodities will be so increased, that the farmer, hatter, clothier, and shoemaker, will have an increase of profits, as well as the foreign merchant. They who hold this argument agree with me, that the profits of different employments have a tendency to conform to one another; to advance and recede together. Our variance consists in this: They contend, that the equality of profits will be brought about by the general rise of profits; and I am of opinion, that the profits of the favoured trade will speedily subside to the general level.
Kota Nakako
2019/3/21
