Economics of Kautiliya Shukra and Brihaspati.pmd

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3. The state use to discourage enhancement of price by bidding. When purchasers happen to bid for it the enhanced amount of the price together with the toll on the merchandise shall be paid into the king’s treasury. (ibid) Kautilya also provided detailed guidelines for determination of various components of price. Guidelines for wage determination are scattered in 3.13 and 14, 4.2 and 5.3 of the book. The basic principles was that wages should be so determined by contract between the employer and the employee which once settled would be binding on both the parties that the employer is not cheated and at the same time the employee is not exploited.There were also specific guidelines for ascertaining transport, storage and other associated expenses. Rigid and simplified rules were prescribed for determining tolls and taxes on all the commodities. In Kautiliya Arthashastra and Shukra-niti the following foundation of price determination has been taken- Price = average cost of production + tolls and taxes + transport and associated costs + profit margin Where average cost of production = cost of raw materials + wages + interest Thus according to Shukra and Katuilya, Price = value of the commodity Where price denotes market price and value denotes normal price. The normal price, according to Kautilya and Shukra, is average cost of production. Availability and Non-availability Effect According to Shukra there is always price fluctuation (around normal price). The causes, according to him, are as follows- 70 1. If the commodity is scarce its price rises. 2. If the supply of the commodity is sufficient the price falls. 3. According to the goal of seller price may be high or low. 4. According to the quality of a commodity price may be high or low. Kautilya has used two different words for normal price and market price. He uses Mulya (Value) for normal price and Arghya (Price ) for market rate. The concept of high and low price as described in Shukra-niti is slightly different from that of Marshallian price theory. Marshallian price is determined at the point where demand and supply are equal. Shukra uses two terms for the explanation of price determination- mulya or value and argha or price. According to Shukra price is determined at the point where value equals the price. He was aware of availability effect and non-availability effect in the price. In non-availability condition price will be high in comparison to value but in availability condition price will be low in comparison to value. The effect of avalability and non-availbility is explained in table 5.3. Table 5.3. Availability and Non-availbility Effect in Shukra-niti Price Relation Cost Tendency Price equals value no tendency to change Price greater than value falls Price smaller than value rises Source: Shukra-niti, 2000, 2.146 Fig. 5.1 explains the equilibrium when value and price are equal. Fig. 5.2 explains the availability effect. In this situation, Market Price = Normal price - availability effect or Market price < Normal price. Fig.5.3 explains the non-availability or scarcity effect. In this 71
situation, Market Price = Normal price + non-availability effect or Market price > Normal price. Value/Price Value/Price Value/Price Fig.5.1. Equilibrium in the Market Value=Price o Demand Fig.5.2. Availability Effect Value Price o Demand Fig.5.3.Non-Availability Effect Price Value o Demand This theory is similar to cost of production theory propunded by classicists. Universaliness of this theory is beyond doubt but it is unfortunate that this reference is not included in the text-books in the universities to be read by the scholars. It is also has been neglected in the history of economic thought. 72 Limitations of Marshallian Price Theory Although Marshallian theory of price is considered the most satisfactory price theory. But the limitations of this are as follows- 1. According to demand and supply theory a consumer tries to purchase goods in minimum price. But this assumption may be criticized on two grwoundsa) It is not possible to purchase a commodity in low price than its cost of production in normal situation. b) It will be unjust to a seller if any consumer gets the commodity in less than cost price. 2. A producer can charge high price than its cost price but this will be unjust to consumer. Factor Pricing in Kautiliya Arthashastra and Shukra-niti In Neo-classical Theory of Distribution Euler's Theorem 7 is applied. According to this theory if factors are paid according to their contribution, total production is exhausted. The Factor Price that is determined by Kautilya, Shukra and Manu theoretically and practically can be compared with the Neo-classical Theory of Distribution. They have fixed the rent 16.67 percent of the produce on an average.They are of the view that interest rates were to be rigidly fixed by the state (considering the degree of risk involved) so as to prevent usury and exploitation of the weak borrowers. Maximum limitation of total payment was fixed as the double of the principle amount. Kautilya has fixed interest rates on the basis of risks as follows, 'Five Panas per month percent is commercial interest, 10 Panas per month percent prevails among forest, 20 Panas per month percent prevails among sea traders. Persons exceeding or causing to exceed the above rate of interest shall be punished'. 73
Page 1 and 2: CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Hillebrand
Page 3 and 4: was 8800 but at present it consists
Page 5 and 6: view point of modern economics foll
Page 7 and 8: Painna, Mula Sutta, Nandi Sutta and
Page 9 and 10: Kautilya's Definition- The definiti
Page 11 and 12: subject matter of Econmics. Some ot
Page 13 and 14: 24. A given statement that is to be
Page 15 and 16: the control, both his subjects and
Page 17 and 18: supervision were clearly to be supp
Page 19 and 20: He opines that Shali (winter season
Page 21 and 22: only 20 milch cows is given to one
Page 23 and 24: fishes in a very small pond or the
Page 25 and 26: connection that state had framed tr
Page 27 and 28: Regulation of Trade and Protection
Page 29 and 30: judged through the process prescrib
Page 31 and 32: Notes Superintendent of Market was
Page 33 and 34: high. I think it unlikely that anyo
Page 35: glut in the market in the case of c
Page 39 and 40: Introduction CHAPTER SIX GOVERNMENT
Page 41 and 42: h. Monopoly tax i. Royalty j. Taxes
Page 43 and 44: words, 'Fifteen days and nights mak
Page 45 and 46: There were however some other sourc
Page 47 and 48: CHAPTER SEVEN CONCLUSION Kautilya a
Page 49 and 50: follows the price policy explained
Page 51 and 52: and kam helps in selecting the best
Page 53 and 54: Bokare, M G.2009.Hindu Economics, P
Page 55 and 56: Shukra-niti.1987.translated by D B
Page 57 and 58: ECONOMICS OF KAUTILYA SHUKRA AND BR
Page 59 and 60: CONTENT Chapter 1: Introduction 1 C

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