THE PROBLEM OF WAGES 131

further point, already touched in passing, affects even the
reckless lower classes whose birth-rate is uninfluenced by
their economic circumstances. Lack of means results in
harder conditions of life for all, and especially for very
young infants, and the survival-rate is touched even if the
Sirth-rate be not affected.
The reduction of wages below the level needed to
maintain the class standard of living, then, operates to
check the supply of labour. If the class standard be
unyielding, this reduction of supply will be slowly brought
about. If the work-people rearrange their plan of living to
suit their reduced means, their efficiency will be reduced.
Their earning power being reduced, the demand-price for
their labour will follow suit, and thus a fall in wages, which
produces no response in a reduction of numbers, contains
in itself the possibilities of a progressive degradation of the
condition of the class affected. It is, of course, quite conceivable
 that, with wiser expenditure, a reduced income
might serve to provide necessaries as plentifully as a larger
one, the change being mainly one touching superfluities.
In reference to this, it may be repeated that, in practice,
reduction of income is not found to result in the simple
cutting off of superfluous consumption. Some concurrent
reduction of physical necessaries goes on as well, Further,
the reduction of consumption, in the direction of cutting off
whatever exceeds the physical necessaries for efficiency,
Operates to modify the willingness to work at high pressure,
sven if the ability to do so be not affected.
It is clear that increased wisdom in expenditure might
Contribute as effectually as increased wages to ensure ability
to work well. The expenses of production of commodities
might, therefore, be decreased by true economy in consumption,
 as well as by economy in the organisation of
Processes of production. Still more, the real satisfactions of
life might be considerably added to by such care in spending,
S0 that, with given earnings, a fuller life might be enjoyed.
While we acknowledge these facts, and regard them as
of very great importance, they must be admitted to have
but little bearing on the problem before us. Practically,