Thus,Smithisinerror.Whilehisclaimthat"slave"cultivationisgrosslywastefulmayormaynotbetrue,hisviewthat,historically,foreconomicreasonssharecroppershavebeengraduallyreplacedbyfixed-rentfarmers,iswrong.Oneneedonlypointoutthatsharetenancyhasnotbeenreplacedbyfixedrent,andthatintheUnitedStatessimilarsharecontractspredominateamongleasesofretailstores,beautysalons,gasolinestations,amusementparkrentals,andeventhemuchregulatedoilandfisheryindustries.Indeed,therarityofsharecroppinginEnglandasobservedbySmithandlaterbyMillandMarshallmightverywellbetheresultofthefreehold,underwhichaleaseforlifewasenforcedbylaw.Underaperpetuallease,thecostofenforcingasharecontractmaybesohighastomakeitundesirable,sincetenancydismissalisoneeffectivedevicetoinsureagainstpoorperformancebysharecroppers.
Itis,ofcourse,difficulttoevaluateSmith'sinfluenceoverlaterwritersonsharetenancy.Thetax-equivalentargumentaside,whatappearstohavepermeatedthemindsofsubsequentEnglishwritersistheconvictionthattheBritish（fixedrent）systemwasmoreadvancedandefficientthanrentalarrangementselsewhere.ThisconvictionwasreinforcedbythefamousTravelsofArthurYoung.
YoungwasthesecretarytotheHonorableBoardofAgricultureandFellowoftheRoyalSociety.EsteemedasanagriculturalexpertinEngland,hecondemnedthemetayersalmosteverytimetheywerementionedinhisTravelsinFranceduringtheYears1787,1788,and1789.[11]Ofthemetayagesystem,Youngwrote: