Economic Contrasts and the Modern Spirit §1. " The problem of poverty " is an economic commonplace.On its existence and importance, though not upon its solution, all thoughtful persons are agreed.The word " poverty," as commonly used, impUes a contrast.It signifies a failure, through insufiliciency of income, to reach a certain standard of economic welfare.This standard may be either a standard which is in fact reached by certain communities, or sections of communities, or a standard which, it is thought, should be reached, if life, from an economic point of view, is to be worth living.Thus, on the one hand, we speak of the poverty of the inhabitants of India, as compared with those of Great Britain, or of the worst paid Workers in Great Britain, as compared with the working classes in general, or of the working classes in general as compared with " the rich " ; or, on the other hand, we speak of the poverty of certain sections of the population, as compared with a standard which is held to be " reasonable," or with a standard measured by the purchasing power of a " living wage," however defined.Further, it accords with common knowledge and common usage to say that, in almost all modem communities, there exists great poverty side by side with 3 Digitized by Microsoft® * Loria, Basi Economiche della Sodeta, p. i. Digitized by Microsoft® * 'William James, Principles of Psychology, I, p. lai. * Marley, On Compromise, p. 203. * Poor by comparison not only with the wealthier classes of their day and 'nation, but with the lowest standard of economic welfare, wUch can be deemed to permit of a civilised existence. * Compare Maine, {Ancient Law, p. 68) who remarks that at every point of past time " by far the greater part of mankind " has been without any conscious desire for " progress." B Digitized by Microsoft® ' This form of words, though very common, is not free from amtngnity. Compare Part III, Chapter I below.
