Excerpt from Political Economy Political eoonomy is, and has been for some years, in a transitional state, which is proof of its vitality. On the one side it is becoming more abstract, and on the other side it is becoming more realistic. The two movements are not in the least Opposed, unless in the sense that they act and react on each other incessantly to the great advance ment of the study. Much modern Economic science is being increasingly assimilated in form and method to the Natural sciences. In chemical and physical labora tories which can pretend to any distinction realistic researching never stops; but speculation as regards the fundamentals of chemistry and physics continue and must continue. In the great laboratory of the world a multitude of realistic researches remain to be made by economists, and it is only as they are made that the science Of economics will develop satisfactorily; but to attack the ultra-abstract and mathematical economists on that account, in the supposed interests of realism, is suicidal. Of this book Speculative results of a very general kind are the substance. I have to thank Mr. A. Fingland Jack, Lecturer on Economics and Commerce in the University of Manchester for his kind assistance with the proofs. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.