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# Spare Revenue

## Definition

That portion of revenue which remains after necessary subsistence is met and
which may be employed in maintaining either productive or unproductive hands.
Productive labourers have little spare revenue, while landlords and merchants
have most to spare, giving them greater influence over the proportion of
productive versus unproductive labour in society.

## Source Chapter

Book II, Chapter 3

## Context

Smith explains how different social classes use their revenue, noting that
spare revenue is the key determinant of whether additional labour will be
productive or unproductive, thus affecting capital accumulation and economic
growth.

## Economic Domain

Distribution

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