1896
(Extract from the Annals of the Institute of Social Sciences)
BRUSSELS
AT THE INSTITUTE
11, RUE RAVENSTEIN, 11
1897
Bruxelles.—Imp. écon., N. Vandersypen, rue de Trèves, 38.
Table of Contents provided by Transcriber
SOCIAL COMPTABILISM ITS PRINCIPLE AND GROUND OF EXISTENCE
SOCIAL COMPTABILISM (COMPLEMENTARY NOTE)
THE CHEQUE AND CLEARING SERVICE
APPENDIX
PROPOSED LAW
PROPOSED LAW DEALING WITH THE ORGANISATION
By Ernest SOLVAY
Would it be possible, in a society constituted as ours is, toreplace the agency of money by another agency which wouldhave its advantages without its inconveniences, and whichcould be considered as theoretically perfect,—in other wordswould it be possible to replace the agency of money by a systemwhich would be the final expression of possible improvementin this matter and the definitive point to which social economicsought necessarily to tend? This is the subject which wepropose to consider.
The paper Social comptabilism and proportionalism[A] whichwas the starting point of the Institute of Social Sciences ofBrussels, was necessarily done in a premature fashion, thesubject being regarded from too general a point of view, so asto be harmful to a true explanation of «comptabilism» properlyso called. It laid itself open to criticism and lays itselfopen still; it does not satisfy all those who wish to go deeply[Pg 2]into the question. On these accounts we deem it our duty,after what the Institute has already published with reference toit, to return again to the subject, limiting ourselves to purelymonetary and account-keeping grounds, and an exclusivelytheoretical explanation of the conception which, connected asit is with the inductive researches of our fellow workers wehave submitted to their consideration.
In the first place let us examine into the use of money insociety, and to whom it is of use; we will next consider if it isindispensable.
Money presents itself to us as being an indispensable instrumentfor effecting transactions which are not mere acts ofbarter, and it presents itself also as having rendered possible,—andthis is of capital importance as the sequel will show,—theregistering, the writing down or account-keeping of thetransactions, if one may so say, which barter did not permit.
Money is exclusively of us