Wizard Population and Other Schools

[Steve]

No: HPFGUIDX 47148

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Shauna" <wind3213 at h...> wrote:
> One thing I would say about your speculations is that you seem 
> to be saying that all of the resources needed to run the wizarding 
> economy are coming from inside the UK.  For instance:


> bboy_mn originally said in part:
> fresh produce, meat, ice cream which means dairies and dairy 
> farms, which  means farms in general, someone has to provide 
> raw material, so we have miners, foundaries, metal smiths, 
> foresters, cotton growers, sheep farmer, fabric weavers, clothes 
> manufactureres, chessboard/piece makers,  (etc, etc.)
> -end this part-

Shauna replied in part:
> Now, you said that because there are importers there are going 
> to be exporters - but, that's something that would decrease the 
> population, not enlarge it.  All the aforementioned things need 
> not come from the UK wizarding population.  In fact, it's likely that 
> only a few of these things do.  With apparation and the floo 
> network, the wizarding world is likely to be far more globalized 
> than the real world, and already half the things we muggles own 
> are from countries across the world. 
> 
> ...edited out a lot of other really good points...
> 
> Just my 2 galleons.
> ~ Shauna

If we have importers then we have to have someone to consume the
imported goods, and we have to have someone to warehouse the goods,
and we have to have someone to distribute them, and resell them. The
consumers need jobs to earn the money to buy the goods. Those jobs
have to come from somewhere. If the market is small then there are few
consumers which means there is not much point in importing. If we have
exporters, then someone has to make the goods that are exported.

As economies grow then tend to become service and technology oriented,
and manufacuring is shunted to poorer countries where labor is cheap.
So while the manufacturing base in the US is shrinking, the
consumption of goods is growing. Our wealth is created by mean other
than manufacturing.

Enland has always been noted for it's fine English linen, and while
not very practical, English flaxen linen is like sleeping in heaven.
If it's quality goods, then it is finer than silk. Woolen products
from the UK also have a fine reputation. So I have not doubt that
there are still substantial goods produced in the UK. After all,
Percy's Cauldron Bottom Report established that imported cauldrons are
inferior to domestic.

So while you made a lot of really good points, I really don't think
the existance of import/export throws the economic balance off that much.

Of course, we are again into the realm of speculation. Fun, but not
productive.... but fun.

Really did like a lot of what you said, even though I cut most of it out.

bboy_mn