SECTION 22. OBSERVATION. 303 



repairs. Secondly, should circumstances favour it, we make an 

 analogous study of wearing apparel in general, the food, drink, 

 housing, furnishing, and recreation problems, where generally, 

 and especially in respect of food and drink, much might be 

 immensely and advantageously simplified and omitted, to the 

 confusion of doctors and even of preachers. And, thirdly, we 

 allow for certain other classes of expenditure, and for the fact 

 that the entire problem is primarily a family problem includ- 

 ing mother, father, and, say, three children. 1 



Having reached this point in our enquiry, we are prepared 

 to venture on the second step, namely, to ascertain how much has 

 to be deducted (a) for superfluous middle-men, (b) for inferior 

 material and bad workmanship due to diverse social causes, 

 (c) for methods of management, production, and distribution 

 short of the most economical, and (d) for individuals not work- 

 ingultimately only children and the aged, since strikes, lock- 

 outs, unemployment, idleness, and illness would be virtually 

 annihilated in a well-ordered community. To simplify the en- 

 quiry, however, we only examine two or three articles and those 

 the simplest and most important. We obtain, as a result, by 

 judicious generalisation, approximately the true normal income 

 necessary for an individual, a family, and a people. Until this 

 calculation has been effected and a competent and progressively- 

 minded committee of men and women economists, with their 

 eyes open and going directly to the facts, could accomplish it 

 in a measurable time for all practicable purposes we shall 

 achieve little progress in the direction of discussing profitably 

 the paramount social problem of the abolition of poverty and, 

 with it, of riches and of unwholesome work and competition. 

 In fact, this Conclusion might aid us in formulating a scientific 

 utopia for our day, to realise which should be the combined 

 task of statesman, reformer, and ordinary citizen. Incidentally, 

 the conclusion arrived at would, in a practical manner, dispose 

 of the problem of the much lauded and debated simple life. 



The vexing wages problem, so simple in appearance and so 

 complex in reality, may be approached by the same method. 

 Suppose all engaged in production and distribution have the 

 same income, and suppose the income is reduced 25/o. Then, 

 other things being equal, the price of all articles is reduced 25/o ; 

 but the income having fallen 25/o, the purchasing power will 

 be the same as before, the lower price corresponding to the 

 lower income. However, desire to earn 25/o more, may lead 

 to a 25% increase in output, which would mean a 25% de- 

 crease in price and a consequent 25/o increase in purchasing 

 power. Or disappointment at the 25/o decrease in income may 

 cause a 25/o decrease in output, when the purchasing power 

 will be reduced by 25/o. Looking at the problem another way, 



1 For a list of family requirements, see 127. 



