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托马斯·马尔萨斯:人口论·摘录 165

托马斯·马尔萨斯《人口论》· An Essay on the Principle of Population · 投资

The argument, perhaps, appears clearer when applied to China, because it is generally allowed that the wealth of China has been long stationary. With regard to any other country it might be always a matter of dispute at which of the two periods, compared, wealth was increasing the fastest, as it is upon the rapidity of the increase of wealth at any particular period that Dr Adam Smith says the condition of the poor depends. It is evident, however, that two nations might increase exactly with the same rapidity in the exchangeable value of the annual produce of their land and labour, yet if one had applied itself chiefly to agriculture, and the other chiefly to commerce, the funds for the maintenance of labour, and consequently the effect of the increase of wealth in each nation, would be extremely different. In that which had applied itself chiefly to agriculture, the poor would live in great plenty, and population would rapidly increase. In that which had applied itself chiefly to commerce, the poor would be comparatively but little benefited and consequently population would increase slowly.

出处: https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/4239
定位:Excerpt 165 · 核对日期:2026-10-19 · 核验:短摘录

白话

马尔萨斯说,用中国举例更清楚,因为中国财富长期停滞。在其他国家,比较两个时期财富增长快慢常有争议,而亚当·斯密认为穷人状况取决于财富增长的速度。但两个国家财富年产品交换价值增速相同,若一个重农、一个重商,维持劳动的基金和效果会截然不同。重农国穷人富足、人口快增;重商国穷人受益少、人口慢增。

上下文

马尔萨斯比较重农与重商对穷人及人口的不同影响,回应亚当·斯密。

今日一问

我们今天的发展模式,是更接近重农还是重商?对普通人的实际生活有何影响?

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