178 
POLITICAL ECONOMY 
for capital in production, as we have discerned, 
measures the marginal worth of different 
quantities of capital in production ; and, in 
order to reach the complete demand of a 
community for capital, we have to add to the 
demand for production what may be called 
the demand for consumption. The demand 
for consumption is measured by the value to 
individuals of accessions to their present 
supplies of wealth when they have tangible 
expectations to pledge as security for loans. 
The supply of capital is governed by the power 
to save and inducements to save. Wealth 
may be saved for a variety of reasons. People 
may practise thrift merely for the sake of 
obtaining interest ; but all saving is not to be 
ascribed to a desire to earn interest. Some 
persons are saving with a view to having at 
their disposal a fund through the agency of 
which they may seize any opportunities that 
offer for the advancement of their worldly 
interests ; and all persons, except the most 
improvident, set by something against sickness, 
accident or other misfortune, or in order to 
enable them to meet without excessive strain 
future obligations. Much of the provision 
for the purposes last enumerated is effected 
through insurance companies. Further the 
accumulations automatically made by those