Letters of David Ricardo to Thomas Robert Malthus, 1810-1823 - David Ricardo

Ever yours,
David Ricardo.

Note.—The table referred to in this letter is the following:—

Table illustrating the invariable Value of Labour and its Results.

	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9
Quarters of corn produced by 10 men or varying fertility of the soil.	Yearly corn wages to each labourer, determined by the demand and supply.	Advances in corn wages, or variable produce commanding the labour of 10 men.	Rate of profits under the foregoing circumstances.	Quantity of labour required to produce the wages of 10 men under the foregoing circumstances.	Quantity of profits on the advances of labour.	Invariable value of the wages of a given number of men.	Value of 100 qrs. of corn under the varying circumstances supposed.	Value of the product of the labour of 10 men under the circumstances supposed.
150 qrs.	12 qrs.	120 qrs.	25 p.c.	8	2	10	8·33	12·5
150	13	130	15·38	8·66	1·34	10	7·7	11·53
150	10	100	50	6·6	3·4	10	10	15
140	12	120	16·66	8·6	1·4	10	7·14	11·6
140	11	110	27·2	7·85	2·15	10	9·09	12·7
130	12	120	8·3	9·23	0·77	10	8·33	10·8
130	10	100	30	7·7	2·3	10	10	13
120	11	110	9	9·17	0·83	10	9·09	10·9
120	10	100	20	8·33	1·67	10	10	12
110	10	100	10	9·09	·91	10	10	11
110	9	90	22·2	8·18	1·82	10	11·1	12·2
100	9	90	11·1	9	1	10	11·1	11·1
100	8	80	25	8	2	10	12·5	12·5
90	8	80	12·5	8·88	1·12	10	12·5	11·25

('Measure of Value,' p. 38.)

Columns 5 to 9 contain the debateable matter.

London, 28 May, 1823.

My dear Malthus,