involves large numbers of people, including the cattle grower, the
transportation agent, the tanner, numerous laborers, the individuals
who supply land and capital to the entrepreneur, and the entrepreneur
who conducts the enterprise. The welfare of millions of people is
involved in the distribution of industrial income among individuals
who coöperate in such enterprises as this.

84. DIFFICULTY OF THE PROBLEM.--Under modern industrial conditions
most commodities are produced by the combined efforts of large numbers
of people. All these people help along the productive process, though
in different ways and to a varying degree. Since all help, all are
entitled to payment. But this is less simple than it sounds. How shall
we determine how much each one helps, and how shall we decide how much
each one is to receive?

At the outset of the discussion, we can be sure of at least one fact,
_i.e._ that since all the individuals involved in a given enterprise
must be paid out of the value of the finished product, the combined
sums received by them cannot long exceed the total value of that
product. Unfortunately, this fact is often overlooked. Many of the
individuals who aid in production often become so intent upon securing
their share, that they are over-ready to explain their contribution to
the product, but loath to give due credit to those who have coöperated
with them. It is the belief that some individuals receive too little
of the joint income of industry, while other individuals receive too
large a share, which has given rise to the charge of injustice in the
distribution of wealth.

85. SIGNIFICANCE OF THE ENTREPRENEUR IN DISTRIBUTION.--For the sake of
clearness, let us continue to illustrate the nature of distribution by