110 ECONOMIC ESSAYS IN HONOR OF JOHN BATES CLARK 
which would be below the point which the change in bargaining 
powers had immediately effected. 
Conversely, if the smaller and negatively inclined factor were 
to improve its position by becoming less negatively elastic or by 
shifting its whole supply curve to the left, then the attendant per- 
centage gain per unit which it secured would be greater than the 
loss per unit suffered by the rival and positive factor. Its supply 
would, therefore, tend to contract more rapidly as compared with 
the positive factor than would be the case were the factors to 
receive equal shares, for then the positive factor would decrease 
with equal rapidity. Consequently, the ultimate unit return to 
the negative factor would be greater than it would have been 
under the condition of equal shares. When the negative factor 
therefore takes the aggressive and is able to force up its unit 
return, it is aided if the positive factor originally receives a larger 
share of the total product, so that it will not contract as rapidly 
as it would otherwise do. 
Where the positive factor received a smaller share than the 
negative, then if the former raises its bargaining strength, the 
decrease in remuneration per unit of the negative factor will 
now be less than the increase in the return per unit for the 
positive factor. This will cause the quantity of the negative 
factor to increase less rapidly than under the assumption of 
equal shares and hence will decrease the amount of the gain 
per unit, which the positive factor will be able ultimately to 
secure. 
If the negative and larger factor, on the other hand, improves 
its bargaining position, it causes a greater percentage fall in the 
return per unit to the positive and smaller factor than the increase 
per unit which it is able to secure for itself. This means that the 
supply of the positive factor will be curtailed by a given advance 
in the bargaining power of the negative factor more than would 
be the case under the condition of equal shares. The negative 
factor would, therefore, as a result of its possessing a greater 
share of the total product, gain less than it would under equal 
sharing. 
When both factors are negative, then an increase in the bar- 
gaining power of the one with the greater initial share will cause 
the unit return of the other factor to fall more rapidly than