184 ROOT MATTERS IN SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC PROBLEMS. 



distribution of tlie products or wants created, but primarily 

 because tlie numbers of consumers of wants have kept pace 

 hitherto with the increased producing power. 



The individual does not necessarily benefit by the aggregate 

 increase in production, as it depends upon the proportion 

 which consumers bear to aggregate production. Thus: — 



Average Ixdividital Share of Products. 

 Let A=Aggregate products created by anterior and 

 present labour. 

 C^Number of consumers. 



P=Average proportional share of products falling 

 to each individual. 



Then A^_p 

 C 



It follows, then, that P will only improve so long as A 

 continues to increase faster than C. The aggregate of A, 

 however large, is of no account. It is the proportional relation 

 to C which determines increase or decrease to P. 



Denial of Comparative Progress in Modern Times 

 Due to Increased Productive Power. 



" the rich are becoming richer, and the poor poorer." 



There is nowhere any improvement which can be credited to increased produc- 

 tive power. 



The tendency of what we call material progress is m nowise to improve the 

 condition of the lowest class in the essentials of happy human life. Nay ... it 

 is to still further depress the conditions of the lowest class.— " Progress and 

 Poverty." 



Of all the mischievous and erroneous statements current, 

 perhaps these are the most notable. The statements imply 

 that the relative state of rich and poor were formerly more 

 equable, and that the working classes, or the lower zone of 

 them, have not benefited by the introduction of steam and 

 electricity, the occupation of vast new virgin lands, and by 

 manifold' inventions and improvements in labour-saving 

 machinery, and in knowledge during the present century. It 

 would be nearer the truth to say that, owing to increase in 

 productive power, at no time in human history has the con- 

 dition of the vast masses of skilled and unskilled workmen 

 been so highly raised materially, intellectually, and socially. 

 No one who has studied the writings of one of the ablest 

 living authorities on this subject — Robert Giffen, President of 

 the Koyal Statistical Society of England — can help admitting 

 that the humblest workmen of the present generation in 

 civilised countries have marvellously improved their condition 

 as compared with any known period in past history. 



Material improvement, unfortunately, cannot eradicate all 

 evils so long as we have those who are vicious, idle, and 

 improvident, and the fruit of these evils must ever fill our 



