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A society that puts equality...ahead of freedom will end up with neither equality nor freedom.
- Milton
Friedman
The Merchant Class
Any discussion about economics must consider the following:
The creation of our economic systems is political.
Our present banking system, the power given to those that create and control money, is a result of political decisions.
Our present economic system is not a natural system: it is a system that was created to serve those that created it. The
lifeline of our financial system is money, and in order to fully understand economics, we must first understand the nature
of money, how it is created or destroyed, the effects that this process has on the economy and the benefits accruing to those
that partake in this process.
What must be made clear, is that before an economist can provide an analysis of
an economy, this person must first understand the financial system. Otherwise, all analysis becomes meaningless, because different
financial systems affect the economy in different ways. Moreover, if we do not understand the basics of our financial system,
then this leads us only into logical contradictions and errors. - From THE CLAIRE FOSS JOURNAL
http://cfoss.com/nature.html
Three concepts will be discussed:
1) The Velocity of Money
2) Profitable Margins are required for
the 'Merchant Class' to exist
3) Corporations vs the 'Small Business' sector
This description sums up the
limitations of classical economists:
The Classical economists, David Ricardo, Karl Marx and, to a lesser degree,
John Stuart Mill disagreed with both the "pure" Quantity Theory of Hume and the real bills doctrine of Smith. They
possessed what is known as a "commodity theory" or "metallic theory" of money. Money, in their view,
was simply gold, silver and other precious metals. In this sense, the price of money was just like that of any other commodity:
cost of production. Or, more explicitly, they regarded the long run value of money to be quite directly the costs of extracting
from mines the precious metals that either constituted commodity money (coins) or the gold that underlay convertible paper
money. Thus, fiat money, where notes are neither a commodity nor convertible to it, remain outside the scope of their theory.
For instance:
"Gold and silver, like all other commodities, are valuable only in proportion to the quantity
of labour necessary to produce them and bring them to market...The quantity of money that can be employed in a country must
be depend on its value...Though [paper money] has no intrinsic value, yet, by limiting its quantity, its value in exchange
is as great as an equal denomination of coin, or of bullion in that coin."
(D.Ricardo, Principles
of Political Economy and Taxation, 1817: p.238)
http://cepa.newschool.edu/het/essays/money/classmoney.htm
Since we live under the Federal Reserve System, with its fractional reserve methods; one has to look to fiat currency
theory to explain a modern and, now; cash less society.
Velocity of money is the speed at which money travels
over a given period of time. For instance, a dollar spent on car insurance has zero velocity because it never returns to the
investor. An IRA may have a velocity as high as 1.6 due to the principal remaining intact, interest earnings and tax recapture.
A tax shelter may have velocity as high as 2 or 3, due to recovery of principal, growth and tax recapture.
The
increase in the velocity of money creates a multiplier effect because the new money generated will also create new money.
The velocity of money concept stresses the point that money must keep moving rather than staying idle, for dollars
that are idle are more vulnerable to the eroding factors of inflation, taxation and planned obsolescence, high interest costs
and poor investments. http://www.sonic.net/~sbw/economics.html
The following is from the Foss Journal:
When the amount of money is increased to purchase existing assets, if the velocity of money decreases (people decide
to hold on to the money from the sale of their asset), then GDP will remain constant. However, if people decide to spend the
money from the sale of assets (velocity of money remains constant), then GDP will increase. It is important to reflect on
factors that effect the velocity of money and the effect on GDP. When earnings are spent to purchase existing assets, and
not expenditures, then GDP will fall which is reflected in a decline in the velocity of money. When people receive money from
the sale of assets, if they spend this money on expenditures, then GDP will increase which is reflected in an increase in
the velocity of money. If people receiving money from the sale of assets decide also to purchase assets with this money, then
GDP is unaffected.
The relationship of expectation to spending becomes the key to consumer spending. If I have
confidence that if I spend the disposable funds in my account, I can easily replace them from the profits of my business or
wages; will be more likely to spend. However, if I fear that my business in not currently profitable or that I may be unemployed
soon; I will cease excessive spending. The next factor is the multiplier effect. When I am spending from my neighbor, and
he is buying from his supplier, and the supplier is purchasing from the manufacturer; all will profit. The quicker the pace
of this process, the greater the 'new wealth' will be created.
But if the economic prospects are bleak, the cycle
will slow or cease. This is a simple theory, but is one of the most powerful engines of wealth creation that has ever existed.
The role of debt can be viewed in this manner:
If we consider debt that is created to purchase existing assets,
the creation of this debt is likely to partially increase GDP and partially increase asset prices, though the creation of
debt is likely to have a much smaller impact on GDP than debt created to fund expenditures. Repayment of this debt can come
from the sale of assets purchased, or by reducing expenditures in the economy. Should none of the existing assets be sold
to repay debt, then all of the payments of principle and interest must be made by reducing expenditures, which will reduce
GDP, by the amount of principle and interest payments multiplied by the velocity of money.
In this way, the creation
of a credit asset bubble can have a very negative effect on GDP. In this case, ever increasing amounts of debt will cause
a substantial increase in asset prices. This propels prices of these assets far above the real value and we generally see
the interest costs on these loans far exceed investment returns. Once credit expansion stops, asset prices will fall to a
fair value, which will leave loan balances far above asset prices. New loans cannot be repaid at all from the sale of assets,
and can only be repaid from a reduction of expenditures, which will reduce GDP, by the amount of payments of principles and
interest. - FOSS Journal
Thus, what we have is a mechanism that increases the growth of prosperity through
the commerce of active businessmen and consumers. As one leaves their money earning years, their purchases are scrutinize
much more closely and are made less frequently. The reason is simple. They are no longer turning over their income as rapidly
as they once did.
The next section will be more involved, because it will deal with the nature of profit margins,
and why they are so necessary for a business sector to survive and prosper.
SARTRE
Every era has a currency that buys souls. In some the currency is pride, in others it is hope, in still others it is a holy
cause. There are of course times when hard cash will buy souls, and the remarkable thing is that such times are marked by
civility, tolerance, and the smooth working of everyday life.
- Eric Hoffer
Profit is Good !
Understanding Business is not rocket science. Profit is the means by which all commerce functions upon. But what are the
factors that go into a business endeavor? Let's list the most important ones: Capital, Product a Service or Idea, Market
to Sell and Access, Equipment and Physical Facilities, Labor, General Administration and Professional Support. When a person
has the talent, ability and dedication to put all these factor together, they could be in a position to have a successful
business. But what else is missing? PROFIT !!! Countless businesses had the above organization in place but went bankrupt
through no fault of the manager. Money is the life blood of commerce, but profit is the goal that every business must attain
to stay in business. Just turning over money in an endless cycle of paying bills and obligations, will guarantee failure
at some point. But what exactly is Profit?
Margin mark up over all the components of real costs is a good starting
definition. The higher the margin mark up, the greater the potential for profit. The tighter the mark up, the greater the
pressure on profit potential. It is my contention that high margins in an efficient and well managed business are desirable,
not only for the owner; but for the general society, as well. Why? Simply because a business will have the opportunity to
remain in business, with all the benefits that it produces for its customers, suppliers, employees, raw material manufactures,
bankers, professional advisers and even the government, through taxes. If the current objective of selling at the lowest possible
price is the standard, most businesses will eventually close. Consolidation among the very few remaining operations will
result in less creative innovation and competition. Competition should be viewed not based upon price, but on improvements
in the products or greater service levels. Society benefits from superior quality, range of options and improvements. But
Society derives another significant advantage. It allows a greater number of its citizens to own, start and dream that they
can have and run, with reasonable expectation, their own successful business. The fruits of this system allows for many of
the same benefits that home ownership promotes.
Couple this vast number of small individually owned enterprises
with the velocity of money turns, and you will get a business system that breed confidence and the flow of newly created wealth
to the greatest number of people who share in this process. By what means is this wealth created? The hard work of all involved
is certainly one. But that work reality happens in most ventures that fail. How about the capital for the operation? Well,
most small businesses seldom has access to the funds they need for daily operation, let alone for growth and expansion. Then
how about cheaper raw ingredients, labor and overhead costs or even less employees? Wrong direction for the answer. Surely,
lower taxes? RIGHT, fat chance of that.
'Profits' are the bases for wealth creation, and higher profit margins
is the means to judge its desirable level.
SARTRE
Capitalists are motivated not chiefly by the desire to consume wealth or indulge their appetites, but by the freedom and power
to consummate their entrepreneurial ideas.
- George Gilder
Corporations Serve Their Own Interests
Corporations are based upon a philosophy of organization that is quite separate from ownership. Corporation's goal is not
'Profit'. 'Profit' is but a means to its ultimate goal. Most Corporations seldom earn 'Profit' in the traditional methods
of conducting business. Mergers and Acquisitions are the driving force in the Corporate Culture to avoid negative balance
sheets. Creative bookkeeping is the true growth industry among Corporations. Access to new capital allows for the day of
reckoning to be postponed. Whatever 'Profit' that is earned is based upon monopoly dominance of a given market by sheet brute
force. Therefore, the ultimate objective for 'Corps' is: 'CONTROL'.
Managers of Corporations seldom are the owners
of the business. Stock holders retain ownership. But managers strive to influence, if not, obtain the effective voting rights
of shareholders. Stock holders seldom exert their correct and rightful power of their ownership. Managers wheel decision
making and policy direction, while stock holders retain the risk of poor decisions. So what does the Corporation want to
control? The reason for its existence is to set prices, determined what products or services are sold, who is allowed to
do business in an industry, and costs for labor, raw materials and other expenses. These are not separate reasons. All are
part of the goal to 'Control' what the market buys and sells.
Contract this system of business organization with
'Small Business'. Most innovation and discovery is based upon concepts and ideas generated from small creative ventures.
That is the reason that 'Corporations' are so eager to purchase these small firms. The corporate manager is well aware that
their own organization seldom possess equal motivation among their employees to develop an idea from inception. That is why
talent is sought for corporate recruitment that has demonstrated their ability to master the development process, learned
from 'Small Business' experiences. The 'Corps' possess the ability to place a product into the marketplace with easy, by
their dominance; while the 'Small Business' struggles to gain entry. 'Corperations' influence government policy and shape
legislation through their influence of money (bribes) and lobbyists. 'Small Business' seldom is able to compete in this arena
with the limousine crowd.
'Corporations' view labor as an unfortunate expense and irritation. That is the main
reason that industry has relocated offshore. 'Small Business' employs real live humans beings that are part of their own
communities. While, 'Corporations' seek to lower costs through smaller numbers of employees. Examples like this can go on
and on. The point is that the corporate manager operates on his perceived personal best interest, at the expense of all other
interests. This results in compensation that is higher than excessive, golden parachutes, and perks of privilege that even
the real owners don't have.
Society pays the price for this manipulated and distortion of commerce. Prices may
seem to be cheap, but the social costs of this system extracts a hefty price upon all consumers. People have fewer choices
to earn a living. They seldom have control over their personal circumstances with continued transfers and new corporate employment.
Society becomes dependent upon foreign imports to sustain critical needs. Balance of payments deficit sore with purchasing
power being diminished. The 'serf' mentality is the final result of the 'Corporation' attainment of Control. The consumer
is left with few choices and must buy from and through the corporate source. The power of bureaucracy grows along side of
corporate dominance. The end result is State/Corporate control of the entire society. 'Small Business' defuses the concentration
of economic and political power from elite's and spreads it throughout the Community. Choices expand for each consumer, with
their ability to master their own personal economic condition.
The argument that equity prices reflect individual
participation within the 'Corporate' system is false. PE ratios, in the current stock boom, are totally unsustainable. They
boarder on the lunacy and are nothing but a temporary manipulation of a short term bubble. Paper profit can evaporate in
an instant, while solid assets of a continuous 'Small Business' has true intrinsic value. The pride of ownership of a 'Small
Business' is one of the best motivations in the world. The uncertainty of corporate status is one of the biggest contributors
of social upheaval.
For those who defend the 'Corporations', are really promoting 'CONTROL' over people. And as
we both know, those types aspire only to become the corporate manager and condemn the 'Small Business' entrepreneur.
SARTRE
American prosperity and American free enterprise are both highly unusual in the world, and we should not overlook the possibility
that the two are connected.
- Thomas Sowell
Essays
Deflation and rising prices? by Jude Wanniski
Competitive not comparative advantage creates wealth by Shafiq Ahmed Siddiqi
The Nature of Money by John Kutyn
Money versus Wealth by David C. Korten
Money as a Social Disease by David C. Korten
DEMOCRATISING THE WEALTH OF NATIONS by Shann Turnbull
Creating Entrepreneur Through Technological Innovation by M. Masykur WIRATMO & Fahmi WIBAWA
Economic End Game by Wolf DeVoon
The financial bubble: prosperity for some, tragedy for all by John Hoefle
Stage Three in Education Has Arrived by Gary North
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