INTEREST AND PRICES Geldzins und Guterpreise A STUDY OF THE CAUSES REGULATING THE VALUE OF MONEY By KNUT WiCKSELL Translated from the German by R. F. KAHN With an Introduction by PROFESSOR BERTIL OIIL1N Published on behalf of the Royal Economic Society by MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTINS STREET, LONDON 1936 COPYRIGHT PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY R. R. CLARK, LIMITED, EDINBURGH TRANSLATORS NOTE I IFAVE to express my sincere thanks to Miss Anna Schwarz schild, who read a portion of the manuscript with great care, and to Dr. Eduard Rosenbaum, who helped me out of many difficulties. The Appendix consists of Wicksells last published article, translated from the original Swedish by Mrs H. Norberg. Wicksells Geldzins und Giiterpreise was published at Jena by Gustav Fischer in 1898. Such footnotes as I have found it necessary to insert are enclosed in square brackets. R. F. K. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION BY PROFESSOR BERTH, OHLIN . . vii AUTHORS PREFACE ...... xxiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTORY ....... 1 CHAPTER 2 PURCHASING POWER or MONEY AND AVERAGE PRICES . 7 CHAPTER 3 RELATIVE PRICES AND MONEY PRICES . . .18 CHAPTER 4 THE SO-CALLED COST OF PRODUCTION THEORY OF MONEY 29 CHAPTER 5 THE QUANTITY THEORY AND ITS OPPONENTS . .38 v vi INTEREST AND PRICES PAQM CHAPTER 6 THE VELOCITY OF CIRCULATION OF MONEY A. A Pure Cash Economy . . . . .51 B. Simple Credit ...... 59 C. An Organised Credit Economy . . . .62 CHAPTER 7 THE RATE OF INTEREST AS REGULATOR OF COMMODITY PRICES A. The Classical Theory and the School of TooJce . . 81 B. Simplest Hypothesis. Variations of the Rate of Interest when the Market Situation Remains otherwise Unaltered 87 CHAPTER 8 THE NATURAL RATE OF INTEREST ON CAPITAL AND THE RATEOF INTEREST ON LOANS . . . .102 CHAPTER 9 SYSTEMATIC EXPOSITION OF THE THEORY . A. The Causes which Determine the Natural Rate of Interest on Capital ....... 122 B. The Use of Money . . . . . .134 CHAPTER 10 INTERNATIONAL PRICE RELATIONSHIPS . . .157 CHAPTER 11 ACTUAL PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRECED ING THEORY . . . . . .165 CHAPTER 12 PRACTICAL PROPOSALS FOR THE STABILISATION OF THE VALUE OF MONEY . . . . . .178 APPENDIX THE MONETARY PROBLEM OF THE SCANDINAVIAN COUN TRIES ........ 197 INTRODUCTION To judge the character and importance of Knut Wicksells monetary doctrines, it is necessary to view them against the background of the monetary controversy of the late nineties. For some decades the organisation of an inter national gold standard had been the outstanding problem. Hardly had this organisation won its victory in the seventies, when its position was threatened by the con tinued fall in wholesale prices. A violent propaganda for bimetallism set in almost everywhere. The character, working, advantages, and disadvantages of this system naturally became the central topic of discussion in the monetary field. The old debate between the currency and the banking schools had died out and the latter un doubtedly held the field. The quantity theory of money was discredited, even in the Anglo-Saxon countries. Most writers agreed that if credits were granted on adequate security in accordance with sound banking principles, the supply of means of payment could not exceed the re quirements of the market. There was no discussion in that connection of the level of bank rate. Two things seem to have caused Wicksell to adopt an entirely different attitude to monetary problems. First ofall, he was a close student and admirer of the English classical school of economists, above all of Ricardo. To Wicksells mathematical mind the quantity theory of money, as presented by Ricardo, made a much stronger appeal than the vague generalisations of the current bank ing discussions, which side-stepped the question Why do prices rise or fall that Wicksell at an early stage came to regard as the main problem of monetary theory...

Known as the "economist's economist" for his work on creating a synthetic economic theory, Swedish economist Knut Wicksell was a controversial, but highly influential figure in modern economic thought. His contributions to marginal productivity theory, income distribution and, most notably, his theory of interest would come to have a profound impact upon twentieth century economic theory, not least in the work of John Maynard Keynes. First published in English in 1934 and 1935, this Routledge Revival set is a reissue of his two volume work on political economy, first published in Sweden in 1901 and 1906. This work is aimed at both the professional economist and the advanced student alike, as well as all those interested in the theoretical development of political economy. Volume I concerns itself predominiantly with issues of theory: specifically the theory of value, the theory of production and distribution and the theory of capital accumulation. Volume II deals with theories relating to money, currency and credit. For institutional purchases for e-book sets please contact [email protected] (customers in the UK, Europe and Rest of World)

Known as the "economist's economist" for his work on creating a synthetic economic theory, Swedish economist Knut Wicksell was a controversial, but highly influential figure in modern economic thought. His contributions to marginal productivity theory, income distribution and, most notably, his theory of interest would come to have a profound impact upon twentieth century economic theory, not least in the work of John Maynard Keynes. First published in English in 1934 and 1935, this Routledge Revival set is a reissue of Wicksell's two volume work on political economy, first published in Sweden in 1901 and 1906. This work is aimed at both the professional economist and the advanced student alike, as well as all those interested in the theoretical development of political economy. Volume I concerns itself predominantly with issues of theory: specifically the theory of value, the theory of production and distribution and the theory of capital accumulation. Volume II deals with theories relating to money, currency and credit.

Knut Wicksell is acknowledged to be the precursor and prophet of modern macroeconomic theory and he provided some of its chief elements a generation before their power and significance were properly recognized. This book, originally published in German in 1893 and in English in 1954 brought time into the previously timeless theory of value and income distribution. The theory of the real interest rate, which he developed in Value, Capital and Rent became a central and essential element when he began to explain what determines the general level of money prices and how the changes of this level come about.

This volume, originally published in 1958, contains a selection of the most important and interesting articles by Knut Wicksell, which had hitherto only been published in Swedish. They cover Wicksell's views on Economics and monetary theory, his theory of production and distribution, some review articles on the works of Pareto, Boehm-Bawerk, Carl Menger and Bowley and some papers on foreign trade problems, written after the First World War. Erik Lindahl's introductory essay gives a picture of Wicksell the social reformer, who radical opinions often brought him into conflict with the authorities and the general public.

Knut Wicksell is acknowledged to be the precursor and prophet of modern macroeconomic theory and he provided some of its chief elements a generation before their power and significance were properly recognized. This book, originally published in German in 1893 and in English in 1954 brought time into the previously timeless theory of value and income distribution. The theory of the real interest rate, which he developed in Value, Capital and Rent became a central and essential element when he began to explain what determines the general level of money prices and how the changes of this level come about.

This volume, originally published in 1958, contains a selection of the most important and interesting articles by Knut Wicksell, which had hitherto only been published in Swedish. They cover Wicksell's views on Economics and monetary theory, his theory of production and distribution, some review articles on the works of Pareto, Boehm-Bawerk, Carl Menger and Bowley and some papers on foreign trade problems, written after the First World War. Erik Lindahl's introductory essay gives a picture of Wicksell the social reformer, who radical opinions often brought him into conflict with the authorities and the general public.

In Two Volumes. Volume 1, General Theory; Volume 2, Money.

This is a new release of the original 1935 edition.

LARGE PRINT EDITION More at LargePrintLiberty.com. It was this work by Swedish economist Wicksell that drew the attention of Ludwig von Mises to the effects of interest rate manipulation on the capital structure. This was the first to present the idea of the natural rate of interest, which Wicksell argued can be different from the prevailing rate on the market. The natural rate is equal to the return on capital in an imaginary economy without money. Mises took that idea and made it a central component of his business cycle theory. Wicksell was also an important critic of the Quantity Theory of money.

This is a new release of the original 1935 edition.

In Two Volumes. Volume 1, General Theory; Volume 2, Money.

In Two Volumes. Volume 1, General Theory; Volume 2, Money.

INTEREST AND PRICES Geldzins und Guterpreise A STUDY OF THE CAUSES REGULATING THE VALUE OF MONEY By KNUT WiCKSELL Translated from the German by R. F. KAHN With an Introduction by PROFESSOR BERTIL OIIL1N Published on behalf of the Royal Economic Society by MACMILLAN AND CO., LIMITED ST. MARTINS STREET, LONDON 1936 COPYRIGHT PRINTED IN GREAT BRITAIN BY R. R. CLARK, LIMITED, EDINBURGH TRANSLATORS NOTE I IFAVE to express my sincere thanks to Miss Anna Schwarz schild, who read a portion of the manuscript with great care, and to Dr. Eduard Rosenbaum, who helped me out of many difficulties. The Appendix consists of Wicksells last published article, translated from the original Swedish by Mrs H. Norberg. Wicksells Geldzins und Giiterpreise was published at Jena by Gustav Fischer in 1898. Such footnotes as I have found it necessary to insert are enclosed in square brackets. R. F. K. CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION BY PROFESSOR BERTH, OHLIN . . vii AUTHORS PREFACE ...... xxiii CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTORY ....... 1 CHAPTER 2 PURCHASING POWER or MONEY AND AVERAGE PRICES . 7 CHAPTER 3 RELATIVE PRICES AND MONEY PRICES . . .18 CHAPTER 4 THE SO-CALLED COST OF PRODUCTION THEORY OF MONEY 29 CHAPTER 5 THE QUANTITY THEORY AND ITS OPPONENTS . .38 v vi INTEREST AND PRICES PAQM CHAPTER 6 THE VELOCITY OF CIRCULATION OF MONEY A. A Pure Cash Economy . . . . .51 B. Simple Credit ...... 59 C. An Organised Credit Economy . . . .62 CHAPTER 7 THE RATE OF INTEREST AS REGULATOR OF COMMODITY PRICES A. The Classical Theory and the School of TooJce . . 81 B. Simplest Hypothesis. Variations of the Rate of Interest when the Market Situation Remains otherwise Unaltered 87 CHAPTER 8 THE NATURAL RATE OF INTEREST ON CAPITAL AND THE RATEOF INTEREST ON LOANS . . . .102 CHAPTER 9 SYSTEMATIC EXPOSITION OF THE THEORY . A. The Causes which Determine the Natural Rate of Interest on Capital ....... 122 B. The Use of Money . . . . . .134 CHAPTER 10 INTERNATIONAL PRICE RELATIONSHIPS . . .157 CHAPTER 11 ACTUAL PRICE MOVEMENTS IN THE LIGHT OF THE PRECED ING THEORY . . . . . .165 CHAPTER 12 PRACTICAL PROPOSALS FOR THE STABILISATION OF THE VALUE OF MONEY . . . . . .178 APPENDIX THE MONETARY PROBLEM OF THE SCANDINAVIAN COUN TRIES ........ 197 INTRODUCTION To judge the character and importance of Knut Wicksells monetary doctrines, it is necessary to view them against the background of the monetary controversy of the late nineties. For some decades the organisation of an inter national gold standard had been the outstanding problem. Hardly had this organisation won its victory in the seventies, when its position was threatened by the con tinued fall in wholesale prices. A violent propaganda for bimetallism set in almost everywhere. The character, working, advantages, and disadvantages of this system naturally became the central topic of discussion in the monetary field. The old debate between the currency and the banking schools had died out and the latter un doubtedly held the field. The quantity theory of money was discredited, even in the Anglo-Saxon countries. Most writers agreed that if credits were granted on adequate security in accordance with sound banking principles, the supply of means of payment could not exceed the re quirements of the market. There was no discussion in that connection of the level of bank rate. Two things seem to have caused Wicksell to adopt an entirely different attitude to monetary problems. First ofall, he was a close student and admirer of the English classical school of economists, above all of Ricardo. To Wicksells mathematical mind the quantity theory of money, as presented by Ricardo, made a much stronger appeal than the vague generalisations of the current bank ing discussions, which side-stepped the question Why do prices rise or fall that Wicksell at an early stage came to regard as the main problem of monetary theory...