Human Capital
[Der Weg 1948-10] An original translation of "El capital humano"
Title: Human Capital [es: El capital humano]
Poem: To Columbus, by Bartolomé Mitre [es: A Colón]
Author: Der Weg Editorial Staff
“Der Weg” Issue: Year 02, Issue 10 (October 1948)
Page(s): 680-681
Dan Rouse’s Note(s):
Der Weg - El Sendero is a German and Spanish language magazine published by Dürer-Verlag in Buenos-Aires, Argentina by Germans with connections to the defeated Third Reich.
Der Weg ran monthly issues from 1947 to 1957, with official sanction from Juan Perón’s Government until his overthrow in September 1955.
Source Document(s):
[LINK] Scans of 1948 Der Weg Issues (archive.org)
To Columbus
Bartolomé Mitre
Boga, boga con ánimo valiente, empuñando el timón con firme mano, y no te arredre ese murmullo vano del vulgo necio y del motín reciente.
Row, row with a courageous heart, grip the helm with a steady hand, and do not be daunted by the empty murmurs of the foolish crowd or the recent mutiny.
Marcha, marcha, derecho al Occidente; allí de nuevo mundo está el arcano que adivinó tu genio soberano y que ves con los ojos de la mente.
March, march, straight to the West; there lies the secret of a new world that your sovereign genius divined and that you see with the eyes of your mind.
Fíate en Dios cuando los mares sondas, que, si no existen mundos ignorados, han de surgir del seno de las ondas: Naturaleza y genio son aliados, y todo cuanto el genio ha prometido Naturaleza siempre lo ha cumplido.
Trust in God as you explore the seas, for if unknown worlds do not exist, they shall rise from the bosom of the waves: Nature and genius are allies, and all that genius has promised, Nature has always fulfilled.
Human Capital
Man and land together create capital.
From this, it follows that the economic development of nations is grounded in their geographical extension and population density. By geographical extension, we mean primarily the topographical and geological configurations. By population density, we refer to both the quantity and quality of the human element. When we analyze the Argentine economy, we discover that the land’s capital presents us with a wealth of possibilities and achievements. The same, however, cannot be said for human capital. Through studies and experiments conducted in recent years, we have reached a firm conclusion about the range of riches offered by our highly varied geographical structures. For instance, between the features of the Mesopotamian region and the mountain ranges, there are fascinating nuances that must be scientifically classified through ecological assays. As far as land capital is concerned, Argentina stands undeniably as a vibrant economic example. In terms of demographics, though, it remains a force still taking shape. The richest nations are not those with the largest geographical expanse, but those socially organized to rationally harness natural resources. Take Hindustan and Belgium, for example: social wealth belongs to the latter. And it is precisely this social wealth that forms the substantial core of any economy.
A glance back at history reveals the mistake of those who placed insurmountable barriers to immigration. Have we forgotten that it was thanks to the labor of immigrants that we tilled the pampas and built upon deserts? The waves of immigration, through their work and capacity to adapt, brought value to our fields, forests, livestock, and agriculture. If population is what gave worth to our soil and secured our trade, it is only just that we grant human capital the paramount importance it deserves.
A country with our dimensions and topographical character cannot be deemed rich without a population density capable of socially exploiting its land capital. This is the fundamental reason we find the national government’s immigration policy compelling.
Encouraging immigration and equipping the people of this country for the demands of modern mechanical life are two economic principles we cannot afford to overlook. Our pace of progress calls for more—and better—human capital. The future of our economic emancipation hinges on intelligently upholding the ideal of Juan Bautista Alberdi. Nations that depend solely on exports face grave risks. Exportation is a commercial endeavor that requires the stability provided by a robust internal consumption. Should exports falter and internal absorption capacity remain limited, production swiftly loses value. This is why the wealth of the land must be harmonized with the primary capital embodied in human beings. Let us, then, applaud the return to a policy that roots the nation’s greatness in a larger and more carefully selected population density. It will be no difficult task for us to attract and adapt to our land all those useful individuals eager to seek peace and work, home and tranquility, in these welcoming Argentine lands, steeped in a traditional spirit of hospitality. This will undoubtedly bolster our homeland’s already formidable economy. Let us grant human capital the significance it holds within our economic sphere, and we will have achieved a swift and substantial advancement of the Republic’s core interests.