The economic surplus, a fundamental factor of a development policy

Abstract

Many reasons justify the choice of the concept of "economic surplus" as a topic for a specific reflection. They are both practical and theoretical. From the practical point of view, every development policy necessarily aims at influencing the size and the use of the economic surplus, hence the importance of defining this concept and all those connected with it as clearly and as precisely as possible. The strategic character of this concept becomes apparent, particularly, when we examine the practical obstacles to a rapid rise in the growth rate of the economy; and we discover that the limited amount of funds available for investment only forms part of these obstacles. This, among others, raises the question of the optimum rate of investment and that of its relations with the rate of formation of the surplus. A theoretical analysis then becomes necessary.The theoretical scope of the notion of "economic surplus" is still wider than it may appear from the point of view of economic theory alone. In fact, a large number of recent works written by historians, ethnologists, sociologists and of course economists have shown that from the point of view of theory, the concept of “economic surplus” is of fundamental importance in the understanding of a large number of problems raised by history, ethnology and sociology.