Ricardos Realpolitik It has been my endeavour to shew throughout this work that the rate of profits can never be increased but by a fall in wages, and that there can be no permanent fall of wages but in consequence of a fall of the necessaries on which wages are expended. If, therefore, by the extension of foreign trade, or by improvements in machinery, the food and necessaries of the labourer can be brought to market at a reduced price, profits will rise. "(Ricardo 1817) Ricardo's real interest not efficiency, but shift income from landlords to capitalists(workers irrelevant to Ricardo Real objective to increase rate of investmentRicardo’s Realpolitik • “It has been my endeavour to shew throughout this work, that the rate of profits can never be increased but by a fall in wages, and that there can be no permanent fall of wages but in consequence of a fall of the necessaries on which wages are expended. If, therefore, by the extension of foreign trade, or by improvements in machinery, the food and necessaries of the labourer can be brought to market at a reduced price, profits will rise.” (Ricardo 1817) • Ricardo’s real interest not efficiency, but – shift income from landlords to capitalists (workers irrelevant to Ricardo) – Real objective to increase rate of investment