第2章
加入书架 A- A+
点击下载App,搜索"WorkWealth Work and Wealth",免费读到尾

  Nowanorganicinterpretationofindustrycannotacceptthismodeofconceivingtheproductiveandconsumptivefunctions。Considerationsoftheorganicoriginsofindustrylendnosupporttotheassumptionthatproductionisall\'cost\'andno\'utility,\'consumptionall\'utility\'andno\'cost\'。Onthecontrary,inourhumananalysisofeconomicprocessesweshallratherexpecttofindcostsandutilities,alikeintheirsenseofpainsandpleasuresandoforganiclossesandorganicgains,commingledinvariousdegreesinallproductiveandconsumptiveprocesses。

  Ouraimwillbetosetout,aswellaswecan,reliablerulesforexaminingtheproductiveandconsumptivehistoryofthevarioussortsofconcretemarketablegoodssoastodiscoverthehumanelementsofcostandutilitycontainedineach,andbyacomputationofthesepositivesandnegativestoreachsomeestimateoftheaggregatehumanvaluecontainedintheseveralsortsofcommoditieswhichformtheconcreteincomeofthenationandinthisincomeasawhole。Onlybysomesuchprocessisitpossibletoreachaknowledgeoftherealwealthofnations。

  Wemaystatetheproblemprovisionallyinthreequestions:

  1。Whataretheconcretegoodsandserviceswhichconstitutetherealnationalincome?

  2。Howarethesegoodsproduced?

  3。Howaretheyconsumed?

  Butintruththeconsiderationoftheso-called\'concrete\'natureofthesegoodsisasirrelevanttoouranalysisasthatofthemoneyticketplacedonthem。Forfromthestandpointofwelfarethesegoodsarenothingbuttheactivitiesofthosewhoproduceandconsumethem,or,ifitbepreferred,thehumanprocessesofproductionandconsumption。Thehumanmeaningofanygivenstockofwheatinournationalsupplywillconsistoftheeffortsofbodyandmind,thethoughtanddesireanddirectedskill,putintotheseveralprocessesofpreparingthesoil,sowing,tending,reapingandmarketingthewheat,undergonebythefarmerinManitobaorinNorfolk,themerchant,shipper,miller,bakerwhoconveyitfromthefarmandconvertitintobread,andfinallytheactivitiesofmastication,digestionandassimilationwiththeaccompanyingsatisfactionasitpassesintothephysicalsystemoftheconsumer。Andsowitheveryothersortofconcretemarketablegoodsorservices。Fromthestandpointofhumanvalue,theyarewhollyresolvableintothephysicalandmentalactivitiesandfeelingsofthehumanbeingswhoproduceandconsumethem。Itisthebalanceofthedesirableovertheundesirableintheseseveralactivitiesandfeelingsthatconstitutesthehumanvalueofanystockofmarketablegoods。Thestandardofdesirabilitywillbetheconceptionoftheorganicwellbeingofthesocietytowhichtheindividualswhoseactivitiesandfeelingsareconcernedbelong。

  Ortheseveralstagesofinterpretationmaybeexpressedasfollows。

  Agivenmoneyincomemustfirstberesolvedintotheconcretegoodswhichitexpresses:thosegoodsmustthenberesolvedintothevariouseffortsofproductionandsatisfactionsofconsumption,estimatedaccordingtothecurrentideasanddesiresoftheindividualswhoexperiencethem。thesecurrentindividualestatesofthedesirablemustbeadjustedbyreferencetoanidealstandardofthesociallydesirable。Theextentofthislatterprocessofadjustmentwill,ofcourse,dependuponhowfartheactualcurrentideasandfeelingsofindividualsarekeptinessentialharmonywiththetruestandardofsocialwell-beingbythenaturalevolutionofanorganicsociety。

  §6。Ourtaskinseekingtodeviseamethodforthehumaninterpretationorvaluationofindustryconsiststheninconfrontingthegoodswhichformthenetconsumableincomeofthecommunity,andinfindinganswerstothetworelatedquestions:

  Whatarethenethumancostsinvolvedintheirproduction?

  Whatarethenethumanutilitiesinvolvedintheirconsumption?

  Asimplesuminsubtractionshouldthengiveustheresultweseek——sofarasanysuchquantitativecalculusisvalidandfeasible。5

  Nowthougheconomists,ofcourse,arewellawarethatmanyoftheprocessesofproductioncontainelementsofpleasureandutilitytotheproducers,whilesomeoftheprocessesofconsumptioncontainelementsofpainandcosttotheconsumers,theyhave,rightlyfromtheirstandpoint,ignoredthesequalificationsintheirgeneralformulae,andhaverepresented\'goods\'

  fromtheproducer\'ssideasconsistingentirelyofaccumulatedcosts,whilefromtheconsumer\'ssidetheyconstitutepureutility。Thoughourbriefpreliminarysurveyoftheoriginsofindustryindicatesthatnosuchsharpdistinctionbetweenproductionandconsumptioncanultimatelybemaintained,andthatthroughoutthewholecontinuouscareerofgoodsfromcradletogravetheactivitiesbestowedonthemarecompositesofpleasureandpain,costandutility,organicgainandorganicloss,sociallydesirableandsociallyundesirable,itwillbeexpedienttotakeourstartfromthecommonly-acceptedeconomicposition,andtogiveseparateconsiderationtothehumanvaluesunderlyingprocessesofproductionontheonehand,processesofconsumptionontheother。

  Thegenerallinesalongwhichsuchaninvestigationmustproceedareunmistakable。

  Inordertoexpressbusiness\'costs\'intermsofhumancost,werequiretoknowthreethings:

  1。Thequalityandkindofthevarioushumaneffortsinvolvedinthebusiness\'cost\'。

  2。Thecapacitiesofthehumanbeingswhogiveouttheseefforts。

  3。Thedistributionoftheeffortamongthosewhogiveitout。

  Correspondingstrictlytothisanalysisof\'costs\'ofProductionwillbetheanalysisof\'utility\'ofConsumption。Thereweshallwanttoknow:

  1。Thequalityandkindofthesatisfactionorutilityyieldedbythe\'economicutility\'thatissoldtoconsumers。

  2。Thecapacitiesoftheconsumerswhogetthis\'economicutility\'。

  3。Thedistributionoftheeconomicutilityamongtheconsumingpublic。

  Thehumanistcriticismofindustryiscondensedintothisanalysis。

  Thehumanistrequiresthattheeffortexpendedonanysortofproductionshallbesuchastocontainaminimumofpainfulorinjuriousorotherwiseundesirableactivity。Hiscomplaintisthatindustry,asactuallyorganisedandoperatedunderasystemwhichtreatsallformsofproductivehumaneffortasmarketablegoods,doesnotsecurethishumaneconomy。Thehumanistrequiresthatthepersonssettogiveoutundesirableeffort,\'humancost\',shallbethosebestcapableofsustainingthisloss。Weakwomenorchildren,forexample,shallnotbesettodoworkheavyordangerousinitsincidence,whenstrongmenareavailablewhocoulddoiteasilyandsafely。Thehumanistrequiresthatundesirableorhumanlycostlyworkshallnotmerelybeconfinedtoclassesofpersonscapableofperformingitmosteasilyandsafely,butthatthedistributionofsucheffortshall,asregardslengthoftimeandintensityofpace,besuchastoreducethehumancostperunitofproducttoaminimum。ThehumanistcriticismofindustryupontheCostssideconsists。pointingoutthatthereisnoadequatelyreliableornormalintendencyforthebusinesseconomyofcoststoconformtothisthree-foldhumaneconomy。

  Similarly,turningtotheconsumptionside,thehumanistpointsout:

  1。Thatmanyofthe\'goods\'soldtoconsumersareinherentlydestituteofhumanutility,or,worse,arerepositoriesofdisutility;andthatmoneyvaluesisnotruekeytohumanutility。2。Thattheamountofutilityorwelfaretobegotoutofanygoodsdependsuponthecharacter,thenaturaloracquiredcapacity,oftheparticularconsumersorclassesofconsumersintowhosehandstheyfall。3。Thatatrueeconomyofconsumption,therefore,involvestheirdistributionamongconsumersinproportiontotheircapacitytousethemforpurposesofwelfare。Itiscontendedthatthewentworkingofourindustrialsystem,onitsdistributiveandconsumptiveside,makesnoreliableprovisionforsecuringthatthemaximumofhumanutilityshallattachtotheconsumptionofthenationalincome。

  §7。Totestindetailtheexactvalidityofthishumanistcriticismwouldrequireustoexaminethecostsandtheutility,economicandhuman,representedineachitemofallthevarioussuppliesofgoodsandserviceswhichconstitutethenationalincome。Thisismanifestlyimpracticable。

  Norisitnecessaryforourpurpose,whichistoestablishasoundmethodofvaluationratherthantoendeavourtoformanexactcomputationofthevaluesitdiscloses。Withthisobjectinviewitwillbesufficienttodirectourenquirytotheacceptedclassesorgradesofhumanactivitiesfiguringaseconomiccosts,andthecorrespondingclassesorgradesofhumanutilitiesaffectedbyconsumption。

  Letusbeginwiththe\'costs\'side。

  Acceptingthegeneralcategoriesofcostsofproduction,asrent,interestandprofit,salariesandfees,wagesforallotherbusiness\'costs\',asforinstance,costofmaterial,machinery,fuel,canberesolvedintothese,letusconsiderwhatisthenatureofthehumancostsforwhichthesepaymentsaremade,inthechiefordersofindustry,andhowthesehumancostsarerelatedtotheeconomiccosts。

  Attheoutsetofthisenquiry,however,itwillbeconvenienttoeliminateoneeconomic\'cost\'ofconsiderablemagnitudefromourconsideration,viz。

  economicrent。For,althoughNature,ortheearth,mayinastudyofobjectiveindustryberegardedasaproductiveagent,yieldingmaterials,physicalenergy,andspecialutilities,thisworkinvolvesnohumaneffort,andthereforeisrepresentedbynohumancost。Thisstatement,ofcourse,bynomeansimpliesthathumanforesightandactivitiesplaynopartintheeffectivesupplyoflandandothernaturalresources。Suchresources,hithertoexistingoutsidetheindustrialsystem,arecontinuallybeingdiscovered,broughtwithinreachanddevelopedbyhumanskillandeffort,whileneworimprovedusesarecontinuallybeingobtainedfromnaturalresourcesalreadywithinreach。Insuchprocessesofdiscoveryanddevelopmentmuchcapital,ability,andlabour,areconstantlyengaged,thecostsofwhichmustbedefrayed。Moreover,incertainusesoflandforagriculturalandotherpurposes,provisionmustbemadeforwearandtearorreplacement。

  ButallsuchcostsorexpensesarereallypaymentsforthecapitalandlabouremployedOnthisworkofdevelopmentorupkeep。Theyarenotpaymentsfortheuseofnaturalresources。Theyarenoteconomicrent。Thatbusinesscosthasnohumancostattachedtoit。Fromthestandpointofthemanagerofaparticularbusinessthepaymentofrentisnecessarytoenablehimtogettheuseofthelandorothernaturalagentherequires。Whereprivatepropertyinlandexists,thepaymentofsuchrentislegallynecessary。

  Wherethemaintenanceofsuchlegalrightshasenabledlandvaluestoexchangefreelywithotherformsofwealth,amoralexpediencymaybeclaimedforthepaymentofrent。Butnohumancostcorrespondstoit。Intheorganicinterpretationofindustry,itfiguresaswaste。While,therefore,dueaccountmustbetakenofthisdivisionofwealthorhumanutilitiesinanyfinalsurveyofoursocialeconomy,itmaybedismissedfromourimmediateconsideration。

  §8。Inordertogetaclearunderstandingofindustryregardedfromthestandpointofhumancosts,itwillbeconvenienttofastenourattentionfirstonthestructureandworkingofthesinglebusinesseswhicharetheproductiveunitsofthesystem。Forthebusinessisacloser,morecompact,andmoreintelligiblestructurethanthetrades,markets,orotherlargerdivisionsofindustry。Weshall,therefore,endeavourtoanalysethecombinationsofhumaneffortastheyareexpressedinthevarioustypesofbusiness,soastodiscoverandtoestimatethehumancoststhatareinvolved。

  ThoughthetermBusiness,asweuseithere,mustbeextendedsoastoincludeallsortsofcentresofeconomicactivitynotcommonlyincluded,suchasaschool,adoctor\'spractice,atheatre,itwillbebesttotakeforourleadingcaseanordinarymanufacturingbusiness。Herearegatheredintoclosecooperationalargenumberofhumanandnon-humanfactorsofproduction。Thecentreofthelittlesystemisthemanager,employer,ordirector,whoseideas,desires,andpurposesgovernandregulatethemovementsofthevariousformsofcapitalandlabour。Thismanhasgottogetheronhispremisesaquantityofmachineryandotherplantwhichexpressacomplicatedgrowthofinventionrunningfarbackintothepastandderivedfromgreatnumbersofhumanbrains。Thesemachinesandplantembodyingtheseinventiveideasweremadebypastlabourofvariouskinds。Thismanagerordirector,inplantingtheBusiness,chosewhatseemedthebestapparatusforthepurposeshehadinmind。Heinducedanumberofinvestorsorcapitaliststolendthemoneywhichenabledhimtoobtainthisapparatus,andtohirethevarioussortsoflabourpowerrequiredtooperateit。Thislabourpoweritselfistheproductoftheenergiesofmaninthepast,thedirectancestryofthelabourerswhoproducedthebeingsthatgiveforththelabour-power,thepastgenerationsofmenwhosegrowingknowledgeandpracticeyieldedthetrainingandthehabitsofindustryandofcooperationessentialfortheproductivenessoflabourinthemodernartsofindustry。

  Hereareevidentlymanydifferentsortsofhumaneffort,someofthemphysical,othersintellectual,somepleasurable,otherspainful,somebeneficial,othersdetrimental,totheindividualswhogiveouttheeffort,ortosociety。

  AlloftheseproductiveenergiesrankinPoliticalEconomyas\'costs\',andassuchareremuneratedoutoftheproduct。Whichofthesearehuman\'costs\'andinwhatsenseandwhatdegree?Sucharethequestionsthatlieimmediatelybeforeus,ifweareseekingtoreduceour£2,000,000,000

  totermsofhumanwell-being。

  §9。Inthisconversionofeconomicintohumancostswecanbestbeginbyconsideringthefundamentaldistinctionbetweencreationandimitation,enforcedwithsomuchpenetrationbytheFrenchsociologist,M。Tarde。

  Itisnotinitsprimarysignificanceadoctrineofcosts,butadivisionofproductiveenergyintotwoclasses。Allsocialprogress,indeedallsocialchangesupwardsordownwards,accordingtothistheory,comesaboutinthefollowingway。Someunusuallypowerful,original,orenterprisingperson,assistedoftenbygoodfortune,makeswhatiscalledadiscovery,sometrueandusefulwayofdoingthingsorofthinkingaboutthings,orevenofsayingthings。Thisnewtruth,newphrase,newdodge,iscapableofbeingrecognisedasinterestingoruseful,notonlybyitsdiscoverer,butbythemanywhohadnotthewitorthecourageorthelucktodiscoveritforthemselves。Bysuggestion,infection,contagion,orconsciousimitation,orbyanycombinationofthoseforcesandhabitsthatconstitutethesocialnatureofman,thenoveltybecomesadoptedandappliedbyanever-growingnumberofpersons,overawideningarea,untilitbecomesanacceptedpracticeorconventionofthewholesociety。Everynewreligiousormoralideaorsentiment,everyscientificlaw,everyinventionintheartsofindustry,everydevelopmentofanewtaste,thusproceedsfromoneormorespecialcentresoforiginaldiscovery,andspreadsbyawell-nighautomaticprocessofexpansionorimitation。

  §10。Nowthisdistinctionbetweencreationandimitation,aspropoundedandappliedbyM。Tarde,isdoubtlessopentoseriousobjections。Thepsychologyofimitationisshallow,forunderthissingletermiscoveredwhatareinrealitymanydifferentactions,whilethewholeconceptionofimitationasaprocessistoomechanical。Tosomeofthesedefectsweshallreferpresently。Butthough,regardedasanexplanationoftheprocessesofhumanprogress,theantithesisofcreationandimitationdoesnotsatisfy,itfurnishesanexceedinglyusefulstartingpointtowardsapsychologicalanalysisofeconomicprocesses。Forintheevolutionofindustryitisquiteevidentthatimprovementsdocomeaboutinthismanner。Acomparativelysmallnumberoforiginalorcuriousmindsinventnewusesornewwaysofdoingthingsthatarebetterthantheold,ortheyrecognisethevalueofnewideaswhichothersfailedtorecognise,andtheyhavetheenergyandenterprisetoputthenewideasintooperation。Manyoftheinventionsarenotgoodenoughorbigenough;onlybyaconsiderablenumberoflittleincrementsofnoveltywillanewmachine,oranewprocess,emergeintoeconomicvitality,or,inbusinesslanguage,becomeprofitable。Butwhereaninventionorimprovementhasonceemerged,Stationmultipliesitanditpassesintogeneraluse。6

  Acomparativelysmallnumberofcreativeorinventivemindsthusundoubtedlyplayanexceedinglyimportantpartinthedevelopmentofindustry。ThebriefactsofthinkingofaWatt,aStevenson,aSiemensoranEdison,appeartobeincomparablymoreproductiveineffectthantheroutinelife-toilofthemanythousandsofworkerswhosimplyrepeathourbyhour,daybyday,yearbyyear,somesimplesingleprocesstheyhavelearned。Itistruethatinventionistoonarrowatermproperlytoexpressthedistinctionweareexaminingbetweenthatworkwhichexpressesthecreativeenergyofmanandthatwhichisessentiallyimitative。Forifasuccessfulinventionfurnishesmachineryormethodswhichthusmultiplytheproductivityofhumanlabour,theskilfulorganisationandadministrationofabusiness,theworkdonebytheemployer,hasthesamesortofeffect。Anableemployerwhodirectshisbusinesswithknowledgeandforesight,gatheringtogetherjusttherightmen,materialsandmachinery,producingtherightgoodsattherighttime,andmarketingthemproperly,seemsbyhispersonalabilitygreatlytoenlargethevaluableoutputoftheentirebusiness。Inabigbusinessheseemstobeasproductiveasathousandmen。

  §11。SoabroaddistinctionisbuiltupbetweenAbilityandcommonLabour,thecreativeandthemerelyimitativeworkofman。Fromthisdistinctionhasbeendrawnaningeniousdefenceofthecurrentinequalitiesindistributionofwealth。Sincealltheprogressofmodernindustryisreallyattributabletotheabilityandenterpriseofasmallgroupofinventing,organisingandenterprisingpeople,commonlabourbeinginitselfnomoreskilful,nomoreproductivethanbefore,therecan,itismaintained,beneitherjusticenorreasonintheclaimsoflabourtoalargershareofthathugeincreaseofwealthduetotheabilityofthefew。

  Idonotproposejustnowtoexaminethevalidityofthiscontention。

  WhatcriticismIhavetoofferwillemergeinthecourseofmycloserexaminationofthenatureofindustrialwork。AtpresentIwillonlyaskreaderstoobservethatthedoctrineassumesthatpaymentforindustrialservicesmustoroughttobedeterminedbytheproductivityofthoseservices,notbytheir\'cost\'。

  Now,ourimmediateenquiry,wemustremember,isintohumancosts。

  Andthedistinctionbetweencreativeandimitativeworkisparticularlyinstructiveinitsbearinguponhumancosts。Forifwegradethevarioussortsofhumaneffortthatcontributetotheproductionofwealthaccordingtotheamountofcreativeandimitativecharactertheyseemtopossess,somevaluablelightwillbethrownuponthedistributionofhumancostsamongthevariousclassesofproducers。

  LeavingoutofconsiderationLand,which,asafactorinproduction,involvesnooutputofhumaneffort,weshallfindthattheprovisionandapplicationofalltheotherfactors,ability,capitalandlabour,involvesomehumaneffortbothofacreativeandanimitativetypeandcontainsomeelementsof\'cost\'。

  ForthepurposeofthisanalysisIproposetoclassifyproductiveactivitiesunderthefollowingheads:Art,Invention,ProfessionalService,Organisation,Management,Labour,Saving。Thewarrantyforthisclassificationwillemergeinthecourseoftheanalysis。

  NOTES:

  1。IhavetakentheestimateofthetotalincomeofthenationmadebyMr。FluxinhisReportsoftheFirstCensusofProductionfortheUnitedKingdom1907asthebasisfortheroundfiguresadoptedhereforaggregateincomeandforsavings。

  AsamatteroffactMr。Fluxassignstosavingsaslightlyhigherfigureandproportionofincomethanthattakenhere。ButsinceforourpurposenothingdependsupontheexactitudeofthefiguresandindeedMr。Fluxclaimsnosuchexactitudeforhisitismoreconvenientforustotaketheroundfiguresofourtext,thoughprobablyinbothinstances,i。e。,aggregateincomeandsavings,theyaresomewhatbelowthetruefiguresfor1912。

  2。Thereisnocommonerstumbling-blocktothebeginnerinthestudyofPoliticalEconomythanthefactthattheincomeofarichman,amountingtosay£10,000,whenpaidawaytopersonswhosellhimgoodsorpersonalservices,seemstocount\'overagain\'asincomesofthesepersons。Why,theyaredisposedtoask,shouldtheprivatesecretarywhoreceives£400

  outofthis£10,000berequiredtopayanincome-taxuponasumwhichastheysayhasalreadypaiditsshareaspartofthe£10,000?

  Nothingbutagraspofthefactthatthesecretaryproducesa\'real\'incomeof\'services\'correspondingtothis£400whichhereceivesclearsupthemisunderstanding。

  3。Abouthalfofthispassesundertheheadofover-seasinvestmentsintotheindustrialsystemsofothernations,thoughtheinterestuponthisforeigncapitalisavailableforconsumptioninthiscountry。

  4。WealthandWelfare,Chap。I。

  5。Theexceedinglyimportantquestionofthelimitstothevalidityofsuchaquantitativecalculusisdiscussedintheconcludingchapter。

  6。Tardeappliesthesameterm\'imitation\'totwodifferentsortsofact。Thebusinessmanoremployerwhorecognisessomeimprovedmachineormethodandcopiesitisanimitator。Everyimprovementthusstartingfromacentreofdiscoverybecomesdiffusedthroughoutatrade。

  Buttheterm\'imitation\'isalsoappliedtotheregularworkoftheroutineoperator,whoisconstantlyengagedinrepeatingsomesingleprocess。

  Now,regardedaspsychologicalandaseconomicfacts,thesetwoimitationsaredistinct。

  Theformeristheadoptionofadiscoveryinvolvinganactofrecognitionandofjudgment——notapurelyautomaticimitation——atanyrateuntilithasbecomeacommonforminthetrade。Theemployerwhocopiesoradoptsanimprovementperformsasingleact——heincorporatesthisimprovementinthetechniqueofhismillorshop——onceforall。When,however,itissaidofamachine-workerthathisworkisimitative,somethingdifferentismeant。Heiscontinuallyrepeatinghimself,eachactofrepetitioninvolvinglessconsciousnessintheadaptationofmeanstoend。CHAPTERIV:THECREATIVEFACTORINPRODUCTION

  §1。Themostdistinctivelycreativekindofhumanworkiscalledart。Inmotiveandinperformanceitisthefreestexpressionofpersonalityinwork。Theartistinwhataretermedthefinearts,e。g。,aspainter,poet,sculptor,musician,desirestogiveformalexpressiontosomebeautiful,trueorotherwisedesirableconception,inordereithertosecureforhimselfitsfullerrealisationorthesatisfactionofcommunicatingittoothers。

  Itisnot,however,necessaryforourpurposetoenterupontheexactpsychologyofartmotivesorprocesses。Indeed,wearenotconcernedwiththewholerangeofartisticactivity。Sofarastheartistworkssimplyandentirelyforhisownsatisfaction,inordertoexpresshimselftohimself,hecannotbedeemedtobecontributingtotheeconomicincomeofthenation。Forustheartististheproducerofamarketablecommodity,andweareconcernedtodiscoverthe\'economic\'andthe\'human\'costswhichheincursinthiscapacity。

  Nowsofarasthepainter,poet,ormusicianworksaspureartist,exercisingfreelyhiscreativefaculty,hiseconomic\'costs\'consistmerelyofhis\'keep\',thematerialandintellectualconsumptionnecessarytosupporthimandtofeedhisart。Thenethumancostsofthecreativeworkarenil。

  Forthoughallcreativeworkmayinvolvesomepainsoftravail,thosepainsaremorethancompensatedbythejoythatachildisborn。Evenifwedistinguishthecreativeconceptionfromtheprocessofartisticexecution,whichmayinvolvemuchlaboriouseffortnotinterestingordesirableinitself,wemuststillrememberthattheselaboursaresustainedandendowedwithpleasurablesignificanceasmeanstoaclearlydesiredend,sothatthewholeactivitybecomesinarealsensealabouroflove。Inotherwords,thehumancostsareoutweighedbythehumanutilityevenintheprocessesofproduction,sothatthepurepracticeofartisanetincreaseoflife。Theartist,who,followingfreelyhisowncreativebent,producespictures,playsornovelswhichbringhimingreatgains,isthusinthepositionofbeingpaidhandsomelyforworkwhichisinitselfapleasuretoperformandwhichhewoulddojustaswellifhewereonlypaidhishuman\'keep\'。Thewastefulsocialeconomyoftheordinaryprocessofremuneratingsuccessfulartistsneedsnodiscussion。ForthetrueartfacultyresemblesthoseprocessesbywhichNatureworksintheorganicworldfortheincreaseofcommoditieswhosecomparativescarcitysecuresforthemamarketvalue。Apoetwho\'doesbutsingbecausehemust,\'andyetispaidheavilyfordoingso,isevidentlygettingthebestofbothworlds。Ourpresentpoint,however,isthatthe\'economiccost\'whichhispublisherincursinroyaltiesuponthesalesofhispoemisattendedbynonet\'humancost\'atall,butbyapositivefundof\'humanutility\'。Andthisholdsofalltrulycreativework:theperformanceinvolvesanincreaseoflife,notthatlosswhichistheessenceofallhumancost。

  §2。Ihavespokenofthepure\'artist\'。Theartisticproducerwhosellshisfreedomtothemoneyedpublicmayincurtheheaviestofhumancosts,thedegradationofhishighestquality。Thetemptationtoincurthesemoralandintellectualdamagesisgreatinanynationwherethedominantstandardofpersonalsuccessismoneyincomeandexpenditure。Butperhapsthereisafalsesimplicityintheromanticviewofartisticgenius,whichassumesthattheartistandhisworkarenecessarilydegradedbyinducementstoworkforapublic,insteadofworkingforhimselfalone。Itmay,indeed,beheldthatanartistwhoissoself-centredastohavenoconsciousconsiderationoftheartisticneedsandcapabilitiesofhisfellow-men,issoessentiallyinhumanastobeincapableofgreatwork。Theuseofanart-giftforcommunionwithothers,involvingsomemeasureofconscioussocialdirection,seemsinvolvedinthehumanityoftheartist。Evenwhenthatdirectiontakestheshapeofmarket-prices,itdoesnotnecessarilyincurtheviolentcensurebestowedbyromanticpersons。Whenasoundpublictasteoperates,thisdirectionmaybejustified。TheportraitswhichMrG。F。Wattspaintedreluctantlyformoneyneednotbeconsideredawasteofhispowers。Thenature,again,ofmanycreativemindsseemstorequiretheapplicationofanexternalstimulustobreakdownacertainbarrierofsterileself-absorptionorofdiffidence,whichwouldrobhumanityofmanyofthefruitsofgenius。

  Atanyrateitneednotbeassumedthatworkingforapublic,orevenforamarket,isessentiallyinjurious。Wherethetastewhichoperatesthroughthedemandisdefinitelybase,andwherethepracticeandtheconsciousnessofhavingsoldone\'ssoulformoneyareplainlyrealised,nodoubtcanexist。Butwherepublicsympathyandappreciation,evenexercisedthroughthemarket,inducetheartisttosubordinatesomeofhisprivatetastesandproclivitiestotheperformanceofworkwhich,thoughofsecondaryinteresttohimself,hasasoundsocialvalue,thepressureofdemandmayproducealargerbodyofrealwealthatnorealhumancosttotheproducer。

  Verydifferent,ofcourse,aretheinstancesurgedwithsomuchpassionateinsistencebyRuskin,wheredepravedpublictastes,springingdirectlyfromluxuryandidleness,debauchthenaturaltalentsofartists,andpoisontheveryfountsofthecreativepowerofanation。Corruptiooptimipessima。

  Theproductionofbaseformsofart,inpainting,music,thedrama,literature,theplasticarts,mustnecessaryentailthehighesthumancosts,thelargestlossofhumanwelfare,individualandsocial。Forsuchanartistpoisonsnotonlyhisownsoulbutthesocialsoul,adulteratingthefooddesignedtonourishthehighestfacultiesofman。

  Thereis,however,asenseinwhichitistruethateverypressureofsocialdirectionordemandupontheartistimpairsthecreativecharacterofhiswork。Forsuchsocialdemandrestsuponasimilarityoftasteamongthemembersofapublic,anditssatisfactionrequirestheartisttorepeathimself。Anartist,endowedbytheStateorsomeotherbody,mightexpresshimselfinuniquemasterpieces,aswasthecasewiththegreatartistsofantiquityoroftherenaissancewhowerefortunateintheirprivateorpublicpatrons。Butart,supportedbynumerousprivatepurchasers,whosesocialstandardsmouldtheirtastestotolerablycloseconformity,muststooptoqualifycreationbymuchimitativerepetition。Thisofteninvolvesalargehumancost,imposinganinjuriousspecialisation,mannerismsormechanicalroutine。Thisisparticularlytrueofartswherearefractorymaterialgivesgreatimportancetotechnique,andwherethepracticeofthistechniquenecessarilyrestrictsthespontaneityofexecution。

  §3。ThedescentfromArtisttothemoreorlessmechanicalproducerofart-productsismarkedbymanygrades。Thereisthegradewhichdoesnotpretendtoanyfreeexerciseofthecreativefaculty,confiningitselftointerpretationorexecution。ThisinmusicandincertainotherfineartsissignifiedbyadoptingtheFrenchterm\'artiste\'。Butsomeofthisinterpretativeworkaffordslargescopefortrulycreativework。Atraditionalorwrittendrama,ascoreofmusic,orothernecessarilyimperfectandhalf-mechanicalregisterofsomegreatcreativework,requiresaconstantprocessofre-creationbyasympatheticspirit。Insuchartsthereisagenuinelycreativecooperationbetweentheoriginalcomposerandhisinterpreters,thelatterenjoyingsomereallibertyofpersonalexpressionandgivingmerittotheperformancebythisunionofreproductiveandcreativeachievement。

  Thegreatactorormusicianmaythusevencometousetheworkoftheplaywrightorthecomposerassomuchmaterialforhisowncreativeexpression。Hemayevencarrythistoanexcess,oustinghispredecessorandparasiticallyutilisinghisreputationforthedisplayofhisownartisticqualitiesordefects。Inpaintingandsculpture,ofcourse,wecometoamodeofskilledimitation,thatofthecopyist,wherethefreecreativeelementisconfinedtofarnarrowerlimits。Themainskillhereisthatoftechnicalimitation,notofinterpretation。

  Aswedescendfromthehighergradesofdistinctivelycreativearttotheseinterpretativeandmoreorlessimitativegrades,itwillbeevidentthatlargerhuman\'costs\'ofproductionareapttoemerge。Allimitationorrepetition,eitherofoneselforofanother,isnotinhuman。Thereisarhythmintheprocessesoforganiclifewhichevenrequiressomerepetition。

  Butthisrepetitionisneverprecise,fororganichistorydoesnotexactlyrepeatitself。Theattempt,therefore,toinduceapersontoperformanintricateprocessmanytimesandatshortintervalswithgreatexactitude,isagainsthumanity。Itinvolvessomephysicalandmoralinjury,ahumancost。Weshallconsiderthemoreseriouseffectsofthisprocedurewhenwecometoconsiderthatworkofindustrymostwidelyremovedfromart。

  Inconsidering,however,thesub-artisticworkersitwillnotberighttoratethehumancoststoohigh。Agooddealofscopeforpersonalsatisfactionremainsinmanyofthesekindsofwork。Thesenseofskillinovercomingdifficulties,evokedwhereveranyintricateworkisdonebybrainandhand,yieldsavitaljoy。Thistheexecutantartist,eventhoughmainlyacopyist,experiencesinnomeanmeasure。Itsustainsafinevitality,and,whatissignificantforourparticularenquiry,itinvolveslowhumancost,unlessthepaceandstrainofrepetitionarecarriedtoexcess。Whereveranyreasonablescopeforindividualexpressionorachievementremains,thoughthemainbodyoftheproductmayberigorouslyprescribedbycloseimitation,ororderedbymechanicalcontrivance,theartspiritlivesandthehumancostsarelow。Thephotographer,oreventheskilledperformeronthepianola,retainsalargermeasureofthenatureandthesatisfactionoftheartistthanamerelycursoryconsiderationofhisoccupationwouldsuggest。

  Aconsiderableandgrowingproportionofproductiveenergyisgivenoutinthesevariouslevelsofartisticorcreativework,andtheproportionofthenationalincomerepresentedbythisproductisgrowingwithfairrapidityineverymoderncivilisedcommunity。

  §4。Fromthefineartsweproceedbyaneasytransitiontotheprocessesofdiscoveryandinventionwhichplaysoimportantaroleinprogressiveindustryandareleadingchannelsofcreativeactivity。Theprocessofdiscoveringanewrelationbetweenphenomena,establishinganewfactoranewlaw,hasmuchincommonwithartisticcreation。Thescientificimaginationiscreativethroughitsuseoftheexistingmaterialofknowledgetoframehypotheses。Indeed,thedisinterestedplayofthemindintheexplanationoffactsbybringingthemwithintherangeofscientificlaws,or,conversely,inextendingtherangeofknownlawstonewgroupsoffacts,isaprocessofadventurecontainingnoveltiesofinsightandofoutlookakintoartisticproduction。Thosephilosophers,indeed,whoholdthatthelawsofsciencearenothingotherthanthepatternswhichmanimposesuponthephantasmagoriaofexperienceforhisownprivateends,wouldmakethewholeofscientificdiscoverymerelyanart,differingfromthefineartsinhavingutilityratherthanbeautyforitsgoal。Butweneednotpressthisinterpretationinordertoperceivethesimilarityofalldisinterestedpursuitofknowledgetothefinearts。Whenamathematicianspeaksofabeautifulsolutiontoaproblem,heisnotusingthelanguageofhyperbole,butattestingtothepresenceofanaestheticemotionattendantonthemodeinwhichatruthisreachedandstated。Modernphysicsisfullofdiscoveriescontainingsomesuchartisticquality,e。g。,thegroupingoftheelementsintheproportionsoftheiratomicweightwhichMendelieffestablished,orSirW。Ramsay\'srecentdiscoveryoftherelationsbetweenheliumanditschemicalkindred。Butoneneednotlabourtheanalogybetweenartistandscientist。Forourmainenquiryisintohumancosts,anditwillbeadmittedthatthezestofthescientificstudentandthejoyofdiscoveryareemotionsasvitalandasvaluableinthemselvesastheemotionsoftheartist。Sofar,then,asthescientistcomeswithinourpurviewasaproductiveagent,hisactivitymustrankwiththeartist\'s,asyieldingmorehumanutilitythancost。Itmay,however,becontendedthatthemanofscienceseldom,assuch,entersintothefieldofindustrialproductivity,savewhenheaddstohisscientificworktherileofinventor。Withtheadventoftheinventortheattainmentofknowledgeisbenttosomepurposeofindustrialutility。Butthoughsomedefinitelygainfulpurposemaylurkintheinventor\'smind,itdoesnotcommonlyimposeuponhisworkthedistinctivecostsoflabour。Forinvention,howevernarrowlyutilitarianinitsobjectsandresults,stillremainsintherealmofcreation,stillyieldsthesatisfactionofaproductionthatisinterestingandelevatinginitself。Itseemstomatterlittlewhethertheinventiveprocessisalargeboldspeculativehandlingofsomeprobleminwhichtheinventorisapioneer,orwhetherheisengageduponthenarrowertaskofbringingthepastinventionsofmanygreatermindsuptothelevelofindustrialutilitybysomesmallneweconomy。Theprocessofinventioncarriesthequalityofinterestingnoveltywhichfromourstandpointisthebadgeofcreativework。Weshall,doubtless,beremindedatthispointthathistoryshowsthepathoftheinventortobealmostashardasthatofthetransgressor,strewnwithtoilanddisappointments。Butthoughagreatinvention,likeagreatworkofart,oftenconcealsanarduousandpainfulgestationundertheappearanceofaspontaneousgeneration,toomuchmustnotbemadeofsuchacost。

  Thetrainingofacreativefaculty,thoughlikealltrainingitinvolvesanexerciseandadisciplinenotpleasinginthemselves,can,indeed,scarcelyberegardedinoursenseasacostoflabour。Itisafurtheranceandnotarepressionofpersonality:thepracticeitinvolves,thetechniqueitimpartsarenotmerelymechanicalaptitudes,andtheyalwayscarryinthemtheconscioushopeofcreativeachievement。Theeducationofartisticorinventivefacultyinvolvesnorealwearandtearofhumanvitalitybeyondthatphysicalwastewhicheveryprolongedoccupationinvolves。Inventionitselfinvolvesnocost。Innoneoftheseoperationsisthecharacteristicoflabourpresent,thegiving-outofsomesinglesortofenergybyconstantrepetitionofidenticalactsinanarrowgrooveofendeavour。Suchactsoflabourareindeedinimicaltoinvention:theactofinventioncomescommonlyintimesofleisure。Itistheproductmoreofplaythanofwork,andtheelementofinstinct,perhapsevenofchance,isoftenafactorofsuccess。

  §5。M。Tarde,inhisabruptcontrastbetweencreationandimitationorlabour,hasdogmatisedupontherarityofthecreativefaculty,andcertainothersociologistsandpoliticianshavebusilyengagedthemselvesinsowingfearslestthegreedoforganisedlabourortherashnessofsocialisticlegislationshould,byrobbinggeniusandabilityofitsproperrewards,tamperwiththespringsofindustrialprogress。Now,theimportantquestionoftheeconomicrewardofabilityandgeniusmaybedeferreduntilwehaveascertainedmoreclearlywhatpartthesecreativequalitiesplayinallthedifferentmodesofproductiveenergy。Buttheassumptionthatartisticandinventivefacultyisexceedinglyrare,becauseithassoseldombeendisplayed,mustbeboldlychallenged。Thestudiesofmodernpsychologistsandeducationalistsrefuteit。Onthecontrary,thereisreasontobelievethathumannatureisexceedinglyrichinallsortsofvariationsfromthenormal,andthatverymanyofthesevariationshavevaluableuses,providedthatsuitableconditionsfortheirdiscovery,trainingandapplicationarepresent。

  Thenotionthatgenius,likemurder,will\'out\'isafalsesentimentalism。

  Somemenofgeniusdo,indeed,maketheirwayinspiteofadversecircumstances,forcingthemselvesoutoftheobscurityoftheirsurroundings:they\'breaktheirbirth\'sinvidiousbar,andbreasttheblowsofcircumstance,andgrasptheskirtsofhappychance。\'Thatistosaysomesortsofgeniusareunitedwithqualitiesofaudacity,persistence,andluck,whichenablethemtowin\'through\'。Buthowmanymenofgeniusdonotpossessthesefacultiesandthereforedonotemerge,itisfromthenatureofthecaseimpossibletolearn。Butitisprobablethatmuchgenius,talent,andability,capableofyieldingfinesocialservice,islost。Indeeditisprobablethatmanyofthefinesthumanvariations,involvingunusualdelicacyoffeelingandperhapsofphysique,willbynaturalnecessitybeincapacitatedformakingtheirwayandforcingrecognitionamiduncongenialsurroundings。

  Itislikelythatfarmorehumangeniusislostthanissaved,eveninthemorecivilisednationsofto-day。Forwhataretheconditionsofthesuccessfulutilisationofgenius,andforwhatproportionofthepopulationaretheysecurelyattained?

  Leisureisafirstconditionforallfreeandfruitfulplayofthemind。Veryfewinventionshavecomefromworkerscompelledtokeeptheirnosestothegrindstone,andunabletolettheireyesandthoughtsplayfreelyroundthenatureoftheirwork。Thisiswhyslaverycontributedsoverylittletothedevelopmentoftheindustrialarts:thisiswhysocomparativelyfewinventionsofimportancehavebeenmadebyhiredlabourersinthisandothercountries。Thestrongesteconomicpleaforashorterandalighterworking-dayisthatitwillliberateforinventionandindustrialprogressthelatentcreativeenergyofcountlessworkersthatisstifledunder。theconditionsofalongday\'smonotonoustoil。

  Educationisthenextcondition。Thegreatmassofthepopulationinthiscountryhavenosuchopportunityofeducationasisneededtodiscover,stimulate,andnourishthecreativefacultiesinart,science,andindustrialinvention。Oneneednotoverratewhateventhebesteducationcandoforhumantalentofthecreativeorder。Indeed,theeducationoftheschoolsmaysometimesratherinjurethanimprovethefinestfaculties。Buteducationcandooneincomparableservicetonativegeniusortalent。Byputtingthesensitivemindofayoungmanorwomanincontactwiththeinnumerablewavesofthoughtastirintheintellectualatmospherearound,itsuppliesthefirstessentialofallcreativeactivity,thefruitfulunionoftwothoughts。Untilallthenewmindsbroughtintotheworldareplacedinsuchfreecontactwitheveryfertilisingcurrentofthoughtandfeeling,andenjoyfree,fullopportunitiesofknowingthebestthathasbeenthoughtandsaidinalldepartmentsofhumanknowledge,wecannottellhowmuchcreativefacultyperishesforlackofnecessarynutriment。

  §6。Fromartisticandinventiveworkwhichisessentiallycreative,enjoyable,vitallyserviceableandcostless,weproceedtoreviewtheregularskilledmentalworkoftheprofessionalandadministrativeclasses。

  ThebulkoftheproductiveenergyclassedasAbilitycomesundertheseheads。

  Itisevidentthatinmostofthisworkthecreativequalityisblendedinvariousdegreeswithimitationorroutine。Wepassfromthemoremiraculous,interesting,andrapidmodesofproductiveachievementtoalowerlevel,wheretheexpenditureoftimeandeffortisgreaterandwheretheterms\'practice\'and\'practitioner\'themselvesattestthemoreconfinednatureoftheactivities。Therecanbenodoubtthatthepracticeoflawormedicine,eveninitshighestwalks,involvesagooddealoftoilsomeandalmostmechanicalroutine,thoughthemostsuccessfulpractitionersgenerallyshiftthebulkofthisburdenontothelowergradesoftheprofession。

  Thepracticecalled\'devilling\'inthelawillustratesmymeaning。

  Buteveryprofessionhasitslowergradesofroutineworkers,assistants,dispensers,nurses,clerksandothers,whosesphereoflibertyiscloselycircumscribed,andwhosework,althoughinvolvingsomequalitiesofpersonalskillandresponsibility,mainlyconsistsincarryingoutorders。

  Thisconsiderationofthesubsidiaryprofessionalservicesbringstolight,however,acertaindefectintheuseoftheantithesisbetweencreationandimitation,regardedasanindexofhumanlydesirableandhumanlyundesirablework。

  Mererepetitionorcloseroutineisnotthedistinctivecharacterofmuchofthiswork。Theworkofaprivatesecretary,clerk,orothersubordinatetoaprofessionalmanorahighofficial,maycontainmuchvarietyandnoveltyindetailoreveninkind。Thesamemaybetrueoftheworkofavaletorotherpersonalattendant。Itappliestoallworkwhichconsistsincarryingoutanother\'sorders。Theremaybeplentyofvarietyandscopeforskillinsuchwork;initsinitialstage,asconceivedbythechieforemployer,itmaycontainelementsofcreativeenergy。Butthesubordinatedoesnotreaptheseelementsofpersonalinterestbecausetheinitiationoftheprocessdoesnotrestwithhim。Theessentialsoftheworkareimposeduponhimbytheintellectandwillofanother:neitherthedesignnorthemodeofexecutionishisown。Though,therefore,hisworkmaynotconsistinmereroutine,butmaybewidelyvaried,thefactthatitisnotproperly\'his\'work,theexpressionof\'his\'personality,deprivesitofallqualitiesofcreationorachievement,savesuchfragmentsasadheretothedetailsthatare\'lefttohim。\'Suchworkmay,indeed,bedescribedasimitative,inthatitconsistsinexecutingadesignprescribedtohimbyanother。

  Butifthetermimitationberequired,asitis,todesignatethesortoflabourwhichconsistsinconstantrepetitionofasingleactorprocess,itwouldbebettertomarkthisdistinctionbetweenfreeagentandsubordinateinadifferentway。Thesubordinationofthesecretaryortheclerkinvolvesthehumancostofasurrenderofhispersonaljudgmentandinitiative。

  Totheextentthathedoesthis,hebecomesaninstrumentofanother\'swill。Theextenttowhichthisinvolvesahumancostwillvarygreatlywiththeparticularconditions,technicalorpersonal。Wheresuchsubordinationbelongstogenuineeducationorapprenticeship,orwhereclosesympathyandmutualunderstandinghappentoexistbetweensuperiorandsubordinate,sothatthemindofoneisthemindofboth,nohumancostatallbutahumanutilitymayemerge。Or,inothercases,thetechnicalnatureoftheworkmayinvolvethenecessityofleavingtothesubordinateagooddealofdiscretionandacorrespondinglylargefieldforpersonalexpression。

  Butwherethesubordinatebecomesthemeretoolofhismaster,aheavycostisentailed。Thatcostisheavierindeedthaninordinarymanualroutinelabour,becauseitinvolvesmoredirectlythesubordinationofthemindandwilloftheworker。Partofthedistastefordomesticandothercloselypersonalserviceisduetothecloserbondageofthewholepersonalitythatisinvolvedintherelation。Itisnotsomuchthattheworkisintrinsicallydullorunpleasantasthatitencroachesuponpersonalityandinhibitsinitiativeandachievement。

  §7。Theworkofthehighest,mosthonouredandbestremuneratedmembersoftheprofessionsretainsessentiallythequalityofpersonalachievement。Itconsistsofanumberofdetachedandusuallybriefactsofintellectualskill,theformationofajudgmentuponthemeaningormeritsofacomplicatedcase,thepresentationofthatjudgmentinadviceorargument,thebringingintellectualandmoralinfluencestobearuponsomelineofconduct。

  Insomeinstances,asintheargumentofadifficultcaseincourt,ortheconductofacomplicatedBillinParliament,prolongedandarduousexertion,bothmentalandphysical,maybeinvolved。Evenwheretheseparateactsrequirenoprolongedoutputofenergy,aprofessionalcareer,comprisinglongseriesofsuchacts,maystrainorexhaustthementalandphysicalresourcesevenofastrongman。Thougheachcasewillbedifferent,andwillcallforqualitiesofpersonalskillandjudgment,interestingandagreeableintheirexercise,allwillfallwithinthelimitsofaspeciallineofpractice,andthisspecialismwillwearuponthenervoussystem,bringingtheactivityunderaneconomyofcosts。Thetemptationsofabusyandsuccessfulprofessionalcareerinsidiouslysaptheinterestandjoywhichattendtheearlierstruggle,unlessamanhastherarewisdomandthestrengthofwilltolimithisamountofworkandincome。

  Whatissaidhereofthecompetitiveprofessionsisinlargemeasureapplicabletotheofficialgradesofthepublicservices。Thehighersortsofofficialworkcontinuallyinvolvequalitiesofjudgmentandimagination,andthereislittlemererepetition。Asonedescendstothelowerofficiallevels,theroutineorrepetitiveelementincreases,untilonereachesasortofofficial,theliberty,initiative,skill,andinterestofwhoseworkhardlyexceedsthatoftheordinarymachine-feederinafactory。Inallsuchdistinctivelyroutineworkthereisaheavymentalandevenphysicalcost。Butthereisthisdistinctionbetweenthecaseoftheofficialandoftheprofessionalman。Theformerisnotsubjecttotheconstantdriveofthecompetitivesystemandisusuallyrelievedfromthesenseofinsecurityandanxietywhichwearsuponthemindofmostprofessionalmen。

  §8。Thepsychologyoftheentrepreneurorbusinessmanisoneofgreatinterestandcomplexity。Ifwetaketheordinaryactivitiesofthemanagerofawell-establishedbusinessinastapletrade,theydonotseemtoinvolvemuchinthewayofhighintellectualskill,imagination,orexploit——butmerelyalimitedamountofspecialtradeknowledge,ordinaryintelligence,andcommonsense。Hehastoperformanumberoflittleactsofcalculationanddecision。Whatwecallhischaracter,viz。,honesty,reliability,senseofresponsibility,reallycountsformorethanintellect:

  thereislittledemandforconstructiveorcreativeimagination,orforhighenterprise。Theconductofsuchabusiness,evenonthepartofitsmanager,thoughnotdestituteofinterestingincident,involvesagooddealofdullroutineandevendrudgerywhichcarriesadistinct\'cost\'

  inmentalwearandtear。

  Thesubordinateofficialsinsuchbusinessare,ofcourse,subjectedtoacloserroutine,thoughnevertoamerelymechanicalrepetition,andtheirworkinglifeislessaffectedbyhopesandfearsrelatingtotheprofitsorlossonthehalf-year\'sworking。

  Butalargeproportionofbusinessmenworkunderverydifferentconditionsfromthese。

  Mostindustriesto-dayaresubjectedtorapidchangesinregardtoinstrumentsandmethodsofwork,marketsformaterialsandforfinishedproducts,wagesandconditionsofemployment。Akeeneyefornovelties,arapidjudgment,long-sightedcalculation,commandingcharacter,courageinundertakingrisks——theseareleadingnotesinthemodernbusinesslife。

  Thebusinessmanwhoconstructs,enlarges,andconductsamoderncompetitivebusiness,performsagoodmanyfunctionswhichcallforvariousmentalandmoralqualities。Hemustplanthestructureofhisbusiness-determineitssize,thesizesandsortsofpremisesandplanthewillrequire,theplacewhichhecanbestoccupy;hemustgetreliablemanagersandassistants,andagoodsupplyofskilledlabourofvariouskinds。Hemustwatchmarketsandbeamasteroftheartsofbuyingandselling:hemusthavetactinmanagingemployeesandaquickeyeforimprovementsinmethodsofproductionandofmarketing:hemustbeapracticalfinancier,andmustfollowthecourseofcurrenthistorysofarasitaffectstradeprospects。

  Ifwetakethemostgeneralisedtypeofmodernbusinessman,thefinancierwhodirectstheflowofcapitalintoitsvariouschannels,orthecapitalistwholivesbymanaginghisinvestments,wefindthebusinessabilityinitsmostrefinedform。Forthesemenarethegeneraldirectorsofeconomicenergy,operatingthroughjointstockenterprise。

  Thehumancostsofthisworkofspeculationanddirectionaredifficulttoassess。Suchtermsaslabourandindustryarealienfromtheatmosphereofthesehigheconomicfunctions。Atthesametimethestrainofexcitement,and,atcertainseasons,ofprolongedintellectualeffortandattention,thesenseofresponsibilityforcriticaldecisions,involveaheavynervouswearandtear。Probablytheheaviesthumancost,however,isacertainmoralcallousnessandrecklessnessinvolvedinthefinancialstruggle。

  Forthepapersymbolsofindustrialpower,whichfinanciershandle,aresoabstractinnatureandsoremotefromthehumanfateswhichtheydirect,thatthechainofcausationlinkingstocksandshareswithhumanworkandhumanlifeisseldomrealised。HowshouldthetemporaryholderofablockofsharesinPeruvianrubberconcernhimselfwiththeconditionsofforcedlabourintheAmazonforests,orthegroupformedtofloataforeigngovernmentloanconsiderthehumanmeaningofthenavalpolicyitisintendedtofinance?

  Exceptinsofarastheyaffectthevaluesoftheirholdingsandthepriceatwhichtheycanmarkettheshares,thehumansignificanceofthebusinessorpoliticalenterpriseswhichareconcreteentitiesbehindfinance,hasnomeaningforthem。Thesemenandtheireconomicactivitiesarefurtherremovedfromhumancostsandutilitiesthananyothersortofbusinessmen。Inviewoftheimmensehumanconsequenceswhichfollowfromtheirconductthisaloofnessisademoralisingcondition。

  Sooccultandsosuspectaremanyoftheoperationsoffinanciersassomewhattoobscuretheimportanceoftheactualeconomicservicestheyrendertoourindustrialsystem。Generalfinanceisthegovernoroftheeconomicengine:itdistributeseconomicpoweramongthevariousindustries,allocatingthecapitalofthesavingclassestoroad-making,irrigation,mining,theequipmentofnewcities,theestablishmentofstaplemanufactures,andthesupplyoffinancialresourcesforvariouspurposesofgovernment。

  Thefinestbusinessinstincts,themostrapid,accurate,andcomplexpowersofinferenceandprophecy,thebestbalanceofaudacityandcaution,thelargestandbest-informedimagination,areneededforthisworkofgeneralfinance。Itisintenselyinteresting,andexertsafascinationwhichistraceabletoacombinationofappeals。Thechieffieldforhigheconomicadventure,itevokesmostfullythecombativequalitiesofforceandcunning;

  itisfullofhazardandfluctuation,withlarge,rapidgainsandlosses:

  itneitherrequiresnorpermitsclosepersonalcontactwiththetroublesomeorsordiddetailsofindustrialorcommerciallife。

  Suchistheworkofthefinancierandtheskilledinvestor,whofoundcapitalisticenterprisesanddealintheirstocksandsharesoverthewholeareaoftheindustrialworld。Itisthemostintellectualand,inonesense,themost\'moral\'ofbusinessactivities,involvingatoncethefinestartsofcalculationandthefullestfaithinhumannature。

  Forfinanceismostcloselylinkedwithcredit,andcreditisonlythebusinessnameforfaith。Whenpeopletalkoffinanceasifitwereriddledwithdishonesty,factsgivethemthelie。Thenormalhonestyoffinanceisprovedbythefactthatlargerandlargernumbersofmenandwomenineverycountryofthecivilisedworldarecomingtoentrusttheirsavingsmoreandmoretomenwhoarepersonalstrangers,forinvestmentindistantcountriesandinbusinessestheexactnatureofwhichisunknowntothem,andoverwhichtheycannothopetoexerciseanappreciablecontrol。

  TheworkingofthemachineryofmoderninvestmentbywhichmillionsofmeninEngland,France,andGermanyhavesenttheirsavingstomakerailwaysinS。America,ortoopenupminesinS。Africa,ortobuilddamsinEgypt,isthelargesttangibleresultofmoderneducationthatcanbeadduced。

  Itimpliestheintellectualandmoralcooperationoflargernumbersofdistinctpersonalitiesacrosswiderlocalandnationalbarriersthanbaseveroccurredbeforeinthehistoryoftheworld。

  §9。Areasonablefaithinthefutureandawillingnesstorunsomeriskarecomplementarymotivesinthisgrowthoffinancialinvestment。

  Theyare,however,bynomeansconfinedtooperationsoffinance。Allindustryinvolvesfaithandrisk-taking。Everyproducerwhoactsasafreeagentconceivessomegoodobjectwhichbethinksattainablebyhiswork。Hemaybemistaken,eitherinconceivingwrongly,orinfailingtocarryouthisplan。Hisfailuremaybeduetowantofskillorknowledge,ortoadversecircumstances。Inprimitivesocieties,whereamanproducesmostlyforhisownuse,theriskisless。Forhemaybesupposedtoknowwhathewants,howmuch,andwhenhewantsit。Butwhenhemakesforothers,i。e。,foramarket,therisksaregreater。Forhewillnotknowsomuchaboutthewantsofotherpersonsasabouthisown。Itmightseemasifsmalllocalmarkets,inwhichtheproducerdealtexclusivelywithneighbours,wouldcarrytheleastrisk,andthattheriskwouldexpandwitheachexpansionofthemarketarea。Butthisisnotcommonlythecase。Asarule,thereislessriskfortheproducerservingalargemarket,theindividualmembersofwhichhedoesnotknow,thanasmallmarketofhisneighbours。Forthefluctuationsofaggregatedemandwillbesmallerinthelargermarket,andthoughhewillknowlessabouttheindividualcontributionstoitssupplyanditsdemand,hisriskoffailingtoeffectasale,whenhedesirestodoso,willusuallybeless。Thisatanyrateappliestomoststandardtrades。

点击下载App,搜索"WorkWealth Work and Wealth",免费读到尾