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Intensification of Labor and the Rate and Form of Exploitation

Author

Listed:
  • Deepankar Basu
  • Cameron Haas
  • Thanos Moraitis

Abstract

Does the intensification of labor increase the rate of exploitation? Does it produce absolute surplus value or relative surplus value? This article develops a framework to answer these questions by incorporating intensity of labor in the widely used linear model of production, both in its one- and two-department forms. We show that (a) an intensification of labor always leads to an increase in the rate of exploitation, and (b) the increase in the rate of exploitation takes the form of the production of absolute surplus value in all realistic situations. We also highlight, in the case of any model with more than one industry or sector, an interesting difference in short- and long-run changes in the rate and form of surplus value. JEL Classification: B51, C02

Suggested Citation

  • Deepankar Basu & Cameron Haas & Thanos Moraitis, 2024. "Intensification of Labor and the Rate and Form of Exploitation," Review of Radical Political Economics, Union for Radical Political Economics, vol. 56(1), pages 26-50, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:reorpe:v:56:y:2024:i:1:p:26-50
    DOI: 10.1177/04866134231181407
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Bruce Philp & Gary Slater & David Harvie, 2005. "Preferences, Power, and the Determination of Working Hours," Journal of Economic Issues, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 39(1), pages 75-90, March.
    2. Thomas T. Sekine, 1997. "An Outline of the Dialectic of Capital," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37835-3, December.
    3. Stavros Mavroudeas & Alexis Ioannides, 2011. "Duration, Intensity and Productivity of Labour and the Distinction between Absolute and Relative Surplus-value," Review of Political Economy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 23(3), pages 421-437.
    4. Thomas T Sekine, 1997. "An Outline of the Dialectic of Capital," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37220-7, December.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    rate of exploitation; absolute surplus value; relative surplus value; linear model of production;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • B51 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Current Heterodox Approaches - - - Socialist; Marxian; Sraffian
    • C02 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - General - - - Mathematical Economics

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