David Ricardo：On the Principles of Political Economy and Taxation, Excerpt 36

But, as no wages would be paid by the owner of the machine, which would last 100 years, when profits fell to 5 per cent. the price of his goods must fall to 1007_l._ 13_s._ 8_d._ viz. 1000_l._ to pay his profits, and 7_l._ 13_s._ 8_d._ to accumulate for 100 years at 5 per cent. to replace his capital of 20,000_l._ When profits fell to 4 per cent. his goods must sell for 816_l._ 3_s._ 2_d._, and when at 3 per cent. for 632_l._ 16_s._ 7_d._ By a rise in the price of labour then, under 7 per cent., which has no effect on the prices of commodities wholly produced by labour, a fall of no less than 68 per cent. is effected on those commodities wholly produced by machinery. If the proprietor of the machine sold his goods for more than 632_l._ 16_s._ 7_d._, he would get more than 3 per cent., the general profit of stock; and as others could furnish themselves with machines at the same price of 20,000_l._ they would be so multiplied, that he would be inevitably obliged to sink the price of his goods, till they afforded only the usual and general profits of stock.

Source： https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/33310
Locator：Excerpt 36 · Verified：2026-10-19 · Verification：Short excerpt

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