The agrarian system of Moslem India

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Multivolume work

Identifikator:: 1847028748

Document type:: Multivolume work

Author:: Conrad, Johannes http://d-nb.info/gnd/118521853

Title:: Grundriss zum Studium der politischen Oekonomie

Place of publication:: Jena

Publisher:: Fischer

Year of publication:: 1896-

Collection:: Economics Books

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Volume

Identifikator:: 1886443912

URN:: urn:nbn:de:zbw-retromon-236258

Document type:: Volume

Author:: Conrad, Johannes http://d-nb.info/gnd/118521853

Title:: Nationalökonomie

Volume count:: 1.1915

Place of publication:: Jena

Publisher:: Fischer

Year of publication:: 1915

Scope:: XVI, 460 S.

Digitisation:: 2022

Collection:: Economics Books

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Chapter

Document type:: Multivolume work

Structure type:: Chapter

Title:: Abschnitt I. Die Lehre von der Produktion

Collection:: Economics Books

194 INTERNATIONAL TRADE commonplace in our general economic analysis that a commodity made with much use of machinery is the combined product of two sets of laborers — those who make the instruments and those who operate them. If all those whose labor is combined for producing the final result are paid higher wages than in foreign countries, why cannot the foreigners undersell where much machinery is used as well as where little is used ? The real reason why Americans are more likely to hold their own where machinery is much used, and where hand labor plays a comparatively small part in the expenses of production, is that Americans make and use machinery better. They turn to labor- saving devices more quickly, and they use devices that save more labor. Sometimes the machinery is lower in price than the same machinery when made abroad, because made with labor more effective. Sometimes it is the same in price, but is utilized better and made to turn out more product per unit of operating force. Sometimes, tho dearer in absolute price, it still is cheaper for use — cheaper relatively to its effectiveness. The result is the same, whatever the details of the differences. The same product costs less money in the United States than in countries not so adept with the machine process, and the same labor turns out more of the product. The question remains one of comparative effectiveness. I would not be supposed to lay down the final word on this matter — least of all on the causes that lead to differences in effectiveness. The Americans, we say, have a greater aptitude in applying machinery. But why this national characteristic? To use a phrase of Professor Veblen’s, something more than a taxo- nomic analysis is called for; we need a genetic explanation. How came it about that Americans developed their special traits? The same question arises with regard to other peoples, their industrial characteristics and their special advantages. The English have long been superior to the French in making the cheaper grades of woolens; the French have been their equals in some among the finer grades, their superiors in others. The French have long had an advantage In certain goods of luxurious or artistic character,

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