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# Funds for Maintaining Productive Labour

## Definition

The capital and revenue sources that employ productive hands whose labour
adds value to materials. These funds are much greater in rich countries and
bear a much greater proportion to those likely to be employed in maintaining
idleness, determining the general character of inhabitants as industrious or
idle.

## Source Chapter

Book II, Chapter 3

## Context

Smith argues that the proportion between these funds and those for maintaining
unproductive hands determines whether a country tends toward industry or
idleness, with rich countries having larger proportions of productive labour.

## Economic Domain

Production

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