690 B
690 B
Ordinary Profits of Stock
Definition
The normal rate of return that capital can expect to earn in a particular trade or industry under competitive market conditions, serving as a benchmark for evaluating investment opportunities.
Source Chapter
Book IV, Chapter 5
Context
Smith uses ordinary profits as a standard for determining whether bounties are necessary, arguing that trades earning ordinary profits don't require subsidies, while those earning below this rate may indicate fundamental unprofitability.
Economic Domain
Distribution