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{{Short description|Concept in Marxian economics}} |
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{{For|exploitation rate in machine learning|Reinforcement learning#Exploration}} |
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{{Marxist theory}} |
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The '''rate of exploitation''' is a concept in [[Marxian]] [[political economy]]. It usually refers to the ratio of the total amount of unpaid labor done ([[surplus-value]] sourced in [[surplus labour]]) to the total amount of wages paid (the value of [[labor power|labour power]]). The rate of exploitation is often also called the '''rate of surplus-value.''' |
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{{Marxian economics}} |
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Technically speaking, in the finer points of his theory, Marx did not regard the rate of surplus value and the rate of exploitation as necessarily identical, ''insofar'' as there was a divergence between surplus value ''realised'' and surplus value ''produced''. Thus, the quantity of [[surplus labour]] performed by workers in an enterprise might correspond to a value higher or lower than the surplus value actually ''realised'' as profit income upon sales of output. The implication is that if the gross profit volume was related to wage costs to establish the rate of surplus value, this might overstate or understate the real rate of labor-exploitation. |
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Although it is a subtle point, it has sometimes played an important role in wage bargaining negotiations by [[trade union]]s. For an extreme example, workers might work extremely hard in an enterprise which nevertheless operates at a loss. For another extreme example, workers might work less hard, knowing that their product will sell like hotcakes in a sellers market at sharply inflated prices, yielding profits disproportionate to labour input. The divergence between surplus value ''realised'' and surplus value ''produced'' becomes even more marked if surplus value is viewed in terms of the net incomes of [[social classes]], i.e. net labor income and net property income. |
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In [[Marxian economics]], the '''rate of exploitation''' is the ratio of the total amount of unpaid labor done ([[surplus-value]]) to the total amount of wages paid (the value of [[labour power]]). The rate of exploitation is often also called the '''rate of surplus-value'''.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marx |first1=Karl |title=Capital |date=1867 |location=Volume I, Chapter 9, Section 1 |url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch09.htm |accessdate=2 June 2019 |chapter=The Degree of Exploitation of Labour-Power}}</ref> |
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==Field of application== |
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The rate of exploitation was, in Marx view, a concept which could be applied to any class-based labor process in history, since it expressed only the relationship between [[necessary labour]] and [[surplus labour]]. By contrast, the rate of surplus value was specifically the way the rate of exploitation manifested itself in the [[capitalist mode of production]]. |
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==Different formulae== |
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Marx did not regard the rate of surplus value and the rate of exploitation as necessarily identical, ''insofar'' as there was a divergence between surplus value ''realised'' and surplus value ''produced''. Thus, the quantity of [[surplus labour]] performed by workers in an enterprise might correspond to a value higher or lower than the surplus value actually ''realised'' as profit income upon sales of output. The implication is that if the gross profit volume was related to wage costs to establish the rate of surplus value, this might overstate or understate the real rate of labor-exploitation. Although this is a subtle point, it has sometimes played an important role in wage bargaining negotiations by [[trade union]]s. For an extreme example, workers might work extremely hard in an enterprise which nevertheless operates at a loss. For another extreme example, workers might work less hard, knowing that their product will sell like hotcakes in a seller's market at sharply inflated prices, yielding profits disproportionate to labour input. The divergence between surplus value ''realised'' and surplus value ''produced'' becomes even more marked if surplus value is viewed in terms of the net incomes of [[social classes]], i.e. net labor income and net property income.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marx |first1=Karl |title=Capital |date=1867 |location=Volume I, Chapter 9 |url=https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch09.htm |accessdate=2 June 2019 |chapter= The Rate of Surplus-Value}}</ref> Marx identified five different formulae for the rate of surplus value (see [[surplus value]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marx |first1=Karl |title=Capital |date=1867 |location=Volume I, Chapter 18 |url= https://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1867-c1/ch18.htm |accessdate=2 June 2019 |chapter=Various Formula for the Rate of Surplus-Value}}</ref> |
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Marx identified five different formulae for the rate of surplus value (see [[surplus value]]). |
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==Criticism== |
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Several important criticisms have been made of Marx's concept from different sides: |
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*None of the five measures that Marx cites express anything directly about the ''intensity'' of labor-exploitation, which can increase or decrease without being reflected in his ratios. Exploitation in the workplace might involve much more than Marx envisaged, which would lead to a much higher historical exploitation rate (see also [[productivity]]). |
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*Marx disregards the fact, that workers may be doubly exploited, not just at the point of production, but at the point of their consumption; when they spend their wages on goods and services, they are "taxed" again by the profit and tax component added to the value of the goods and services they ''buy'' (this point is not theoretically developed in most Marxist literature, although it can give rise to consumer resistance and consumer boycotts). This importantly affects our understanding of the economic ''value'' of [[labor power|labour power]]. |
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*Marx equates wage costs with labour costs, but labour costs may involve much more than wages (taxes, social security levies, employer contributions to schemes benefiting employees, bribes and all sorts) (see also [[Compensation of employees]]). |
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*Marx disregards the unpaid labor of (mainly) women in the household, and associated voluntary labor necessary and indispensable for the reproduction of labour power--including reproduction itself (sexually) and the subsidy derived from the provision of the socialization and care of new workers from birth until working age. Market relations depend to a large degree on non-market relations. |
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*Marx largely disregards that employers of labor might be exploited by each other, or that workers might be exploited by each other (this is obviously not completely true, but Marx's main focus was certainly on the capital-labor relationship). |
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*Exploitation rates are class specific (i.e. workers as a group), but do not take into account the interpenetrating different situations experienced by members of groups marginalized by dominant culture (most prominently, race, gender, position in the world system, and sexual orientation). |
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The overall result of these criticisms is that many people{{Who|date=March 2009}} believe Marx's whole notion of exploitation was either too narrowly defined or else too sweeping. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Rate of profit]] |
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*[[Technological unemployment]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|30em}} |
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*[[Marx's theory of alienation]] |
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*[[Surplus value]] |
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*[[Surplus labour]] |
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*[[Wage share]] |
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*[[Wage labour]] |
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*[[Wage slavery]] |
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*[[Cost the limit of price]] |
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[[de:Mehrwertrate]] |
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Latest revision as of 15:29, 27 December 2023
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In Marxian economics, the rate of exploitation is the ratio of the total amount of unpaid labor done (surplus-value) to the total amount of wages paid (the value of labour power). The rate of exploitation is often also called the rate of surplus-value.[1]
Divergence of the two rates
[edit]Marx did not regard the rate of surplus value and the rate of exploitation as necessarily identical, insofar as there was a divergence between surplus value realised and surplus value produced. Thus, the quantity of surplus labour performed by workers in an enterprise might correspond to a value higher or lower than the surplus value actually realised as profit income upon sales of output. The implication is that if the gross profit volume was related to wage costs to establish the rate of surplus value, this might overstate or understate the real rate of labor-exploitation. Although this is a subtle point, it has sometimes played an important role in wage bargaining negotiations by trade unions. For an extreme example, workers might work extremely hard in an enterprise which nevertheless operates at a loss. For another extreme example, workers might work less hard, knowing that their product will sell like hotcakes in a seller's market at sharply inflated prices, yielding profits disproportionate to labour input. The divergence between surplus value realised and surplus value produced becomes even more marked if surplus value is viewed in terms of the net incomes of social classes, i.e. net labor income and net property income.[2] Marx identified five different formulae for the rate of surplus value (see surplus value).[3]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ Marx, Karl (1867). "The Degree of Exploitation of Labour-Power". Capital. Volume I, Chapter 9, Section 1. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Marx, Karl (1867). "The Rate of Surplus-Value". Capital. Volume I, Chapter 9. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link) - ^ Marx, Karl (1867). "Various Formula for the Rate of Surplus-Value". Capital. Volume I, Chapter 18. Retrieved 2 June 2019.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)