Chapter 5: Ricardo and Malthus Questions for Review, Discussion and Research 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Dec 26, 2015
Chapter 5: Ricardo and
Malthus
Questions for Review, Discussion and Research
2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8
Malthusian Population Thesis
Scientific in method as well as purpose
Believed that population tends to grow geometrically while food (and other necessities) increase arithmetically
Checks develop to keep the growth rate of population in line with the food supply Positive Check – increase
in death rate due to wars, famine, disease, etc.
Preventative Check – postponement of marriage would lower birthrate
Flaws in Thesis
1. Birth Control2. No distinction between
sexual desire and the decision to have children
3. Underestimates the impact of technology
Iron Law of Wages
Combination of wage fund doctrine and Malthusian population thesis shows long run wages converging to subsistence levels
Overview of Ricardo
Stockbroker turned country gentleman
Contributions include: Methodology Theories of Value International Trade Public Finance Diminishing returns Economic Rent
Published first pamphlet in 1810
The only major publication after Smith was by Malthus in 1803
Methodology of Ricardo
Questions of political economy that were answered by Smith were an eclectic blend of theory with a historical narrative and the evolution of institutions
Ricardo abstracted from contemporary British economy and employed a timeless deductive approach
Formulation of economic policy required an understanding of the causal relationship between variables
It is non-contextual and it becomes the path of main stream economics after Marshall
Scope of Economics According to Ricardo
Overhead pp 115-16
Ricardian Model
Overhead pp. 116 Landlords are
nonproductive or parasitical
Concept of Surplus Economic Surplus
Assumption of Ricardian Two-Sector Model
Table 5-1
Concept of Diminishing Returns in Agriculture
First discovered by Turgot in 1763
Concept of Economic Rent Viewed from the Product Side
Assume a fixed quantity of agricultural land to which “doses” of capital and labour (effort) are added
Intensive Margin (figure 5-2)
The effects of ‘effort’ on different plots of land with variable fertility Table 5-2
Distinction Between Gross and Net Marginal Product of Effort ( MPE ) Today Gross MPE – Includes
depreciation or CCA of capital inputs
Net MPE – After replacement costs of capital inputs
Ricardian Concepts of Gross and Net MPE
Importance of Diminishing Returns and Economic Rent
These concepts are the foundation of marginal productivity theory which explains the supply side determination of factor input prices
Individual owners view land rent as a cost of production equal to its opportunity cost in alternative uses
Ricardo considered economic rent from an aggregate point of view and therefore1.Not a cost of production2.Not price determining3.Opportunity cost is zero
Ricardo’s Value Theory
Wanted to refute the prevailing cost of production theory of value that sought to explain the forces determining relative prices at a given point of time
His alternative theory was to explain the economic forces that cause changes in relative prices over time because of his interest in the income distribution consequences of the Corn Laws
Sought to identify a commodity that was an invariable measure of value, ie. an absolute measure of value that is invariant over time
Believed that value depends on the quantity of labour necessary for long run production
Production with Ricardo’s Labour Theory of Value
1. Measure the quantity of labour inputs
2. Differing skills and working conditions
3. Capital inputs are merely stored up labour (ie. Labour supplied in a previous period)
Profits are a different percentage of final price for two goods when
I. Total capital per unit of final output is different
II. Rate of turnover of capital depends on the composition of capital (ie. fixed vs. circulating capital)
“Corn” Model
Pure circulating capital model where a percent of previous years output of wheat is required for the years production that
I. Sustains labour during the period of production
II. Seed requirements
Summary of Ricardian Value Theory
Overhead pp. 132-33
Ricardian Distribution Theory
Often called a residual theory
He subtracted the necessary payments for labour and “depreciation” from gross output to calculate the economic “surplus” shared by capitalists and landlords
Short Run Distribution Theory
Overhead pp. 162
Long Run Distribution Theory
Figure 5-3 Overhead pp. 161 Overhead pp. 136
Static Theory of Comparative Advantage
Voluntary trade or exchange can benefit all countries because specialization results in an increase in total output
Carefully read pp. 137 to 140 on your own
This static model assumes that factor inputs are exogenous while the Smithian trade model is dynamic and the
I. Quantity of factor inputs is endogenously determined
II. Increasing returns
Stability and Growth of a Capitalist Economy
Controversy over Say’s Law personified by Ricardo-Malthus debate
Ricardo’s views were dominant until the Keynesian Revolution
Smithian View of Aggregate Demand
Frugality and savings were virtues
Capital accumulation was the primary determinant for prosperity, growth and development
Rate of savings does not affect aggregate demand but only the composition of output, ie. consumption and investment goods
Smithian View of Aggregate Demand Cont’d
Classical View
Overhead pp. 146
Malthusian Challenge
The savings-investment process can not continue indefinitely without leading to long-run stagnation (ie. the stationary state)
Believed that there was insufficient “effectual” demand from households of labour and capitalists in the short run
Social function of non-productive classes was to consume without proceeding
Helped prevent depressions and eventual stagnation
Triumph of Say’s Law
Sufficient purchasing power is generated in the process of producing goods and services to clear all markets at “satisfactory” prices
Supply creates its own demand
Denied possibility of hoarding
Classical Monetary Theory
I. Bullionists Early “monetarists” Inflation is always a
monetary phenomena so tight controls on money supply is required
Gold Standard
II. Real Bills A flexible supply of loans
is required to finance the variable transaction of commercial exchange (ie. circulating capital)
Flexible loans requires flexible money supply (ie. deposits)
The money supply should be endogenous
Keynes on Malthus and Ricardo
Read pp. 149-52 carefully on your own
Summary
Distinct break in methodology
I. Smith – Combination of theory, history and institutional analysis
II. Ricardo – Highly abstract, deductive theory
Scope shifts fromI. Smith – economic
policies to promote economic growth and development
II. Ricardo – implications of changes in the functional distribution of income over time