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Productive and Unproductive Labor in the Labor Theory of Value

Author

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  • Simon Mohun

    (Department of Economics, Queen Mary and Westfield College, Mile End Road, London El 4NS, S.Mohun@qmw.ac.uk)

Abstract

Using a particular understanding of the labor theory of value, this paper surveys the criticisms made of the Marxian distinction between productive and unproductive labor, and rejects them as misconceived. The distinction is then used to draw some consequences for how "the rate of exploitation" should be understood.

Suggested Citation

  • Simon Mohun, 1996. "Productive and Unproductive Labor in the Labor Theory of Value," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 28(4), pages 30-54, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:28:y:1996:i:4:p:30-54
    DOI: 10.1177/048661349602800402
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Gough, Ian, 1972. "Marx's theory of productive and unproductive labour," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 51144, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    2. Duncan K. Foley, 1982. "The Value of Money the Value of Labor Power and the Marxian Transformation Problem," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 14(2), pages 37-47, June.
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    Cited by:

    1. Thomas E. LAMBERT, 2016. "Monopoly Capital and Capitalist Inequality: Marx after Piketty," Journal of Economics and Political Economy, KSP Journals, vol. 3(1), pages 151-159, March.
    2. McMahon, James, 2015. "What Makes Hollywood Run? Capitalist Power, Risk and the Control of Social Creativity," EconStor Theses, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, number 157994, January.
    3. Sergio Cámara Izquierdo, 2003. "La rentabilidad del capital en España," Revista de Economía Crítica, Asociación de Economía Crítica, vol. 1, pages 201-228.
    4. Hyun Woong Park & Dong-Min Rieu, 2020. "A Mathematical Formulation of the Dual Nature of Unproductive Labor," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 52(4), pages 716-738, December.
    5. Jonathan F. Cogliano, 2017. "Surplus Value Production and Realization in Marxian Theory - Applications to the U.S., 1987-2015," Working Paper Series 2017-01, Dickinson College, Department of Economics.
    6. Freeman, Alan, 2012. "The Profit Rate in the Presence of Financial Markets: a Necessary Correction," MPRA Paper 52625, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 01 Jul 2012.
    7. McMahon, James, 2022. "The Political Economy of Hollywood: Capitalist Power and Cultural Production; introduction," EconStor Open Access Book Chapters, in: The Political Economy of Hollywood: Capitalist Power and Cultural Production, pages 1-10, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics.
    8. Clair Quentin, 2024. "Unproductive Labor and the Smile Curve," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 56(2), pages 247-266, June.
    9. Adem Y. Elveren & Sara Hsu, 2016. "Military Expenditures and Profit Rates: Evidence from OECD Countries," Metroeconomica, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 67(3), pages 551-577, July.
    10. Adolfo Rodríguez Herrera, 2021. "Productive and unproductive labor: Marx´s positions on personal services," Working Papers 202103, Universidad de Costa Rica, revised Mar 2021.
    11. Edvinsson, Rodney, 2016. "What are production, work and consumption? Trans-historical re-conceptualisations," Stockholm Papers in Economic History 19, Stockholm University, Department of Economic History.

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