When men exchanged did each laborers wages still come from his own production?
Yes. The system was the same as in primitive society – only the method changed. Farmer Tom grew more corn than he needed because, by so doing, he knew he could trade it for David’s wool to clothe himself. When Tom exchanged his extra corn for David’s extra wool he was really producing wool as well as corn, because, had there been no market place, neither would have produced a surplus. No one could go to the market place empty handed. Each laborer still produced his own wages before he bartered or consumed them. 7. But where do wages come from now that laborers are paid in money? From the laborers’ own production. Invention of money greatly facilitated exchange, but could not change the system. Now laborers each ply a specialized trade. Often, however, they use an employer’s tools. Good old nature still supplies the raw materials (wood, oil, minerals, land to cultivate, ocean fishing grounds). Laborers and employers must always depend on nature for the basic materials they need. Let’s w
