I. Formulation of the question. A brief historical survey, 381. — II. Recent discussion in Germany: Lederer, Loewe, Carrel, 386. — III. In what sense the equilibrium theory is valid, 392. — IV. The clement of time differences: Rosenstein-Rodan, further elaboration, 401. — V. Time differences and the cumulation of random changes, 408. — VI. Summary, 412.