在古典派经济学家关于谷物条例的论争中,最有趣的一个论点是:工人阶级的生活水平在生活必需品价格昂贵时将比生活必需品价格低廉时为高。这是马尔萨斯的论点并使他由是主张维持谷物条例。这个论点所以值得研究,不仅因为它可以帮助我们去了解一个历史时期,并且有着现实的意义,特别是近来对马尔隆斯理论工作的各方面又引起人们很大兴趣的时候,研究这个问题更为适当。这个论点的推理是很简单的。假定(如 One of the most interesting arguments in the controversy of the classical economists on cereal regulations is that the working class’s standard of living would be higher when the necessities of life are more expensive than the necessities of life. This is Malthus’s argument and makes him a proposition to maintain the grain ordinance. This argument deserves to be studied not only because it helps us to understand a historical period, but also has practical significance. Especially when the various aspects of the work of Marlon’s theory have aroused great interest recently, the study of this issue is even more appropriate. The reasoning of this argument is very simple. Suppose (eg