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# Idle Consumers

## Definition

Those members of society who consume economic output without contributing to its production through labour. This group represents a drain on the productive capacity of the economy as they consume without creating value.

## Source Chapter

Book I, Chapter 6

## Context

Discussed in the context of how the annual produce of labour is divided between productive and unproductive consumption. Smith notes that the idle consume a great part of the annual produce, affecting whether the economy's value increases, diminishes, or remains stable.

## Economic Domain

Consumption

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