On the Principles of Political Economy, and Taxation

Viac o knihe

The produce of the earth, derived from its surface through labor, machinery, and capital, is distributed among three community classes: landowners, capital owners, and laborers. The proportions of this produce, known as rent, profit, and wages, vary significantly across different societal stages. This variation depends on factors such as soil fertility, capital and population accumulation, and the skill and tools used in agriculture. Understanding the laws governing this distribution is a central challenge in Political Economy. Despite advancements made by thinkers like Turgot, Stuart, Smith, Say, and Sismondi, there remains a lack of satisfactory insights into the natural progression of rent, profit, and wages. In 1815, Malthus and a fellow from University College, Oxford, introduced the true doctrine of rent, essential for grasping the impact of wealth growth on profits and wages and the effects of taxation on various community classes, especially regarding commodities derived from the earth. Previous economists, including Adam Smith, failed to accurately assess the principles of rent, leading to the neglect of crucial truths that can only be revealed through a comprehensive understanding of rent.