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Duration, Intensity and Productivity of Labour and the Distinction between Absolute and Relative Surplus-value

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  • Stavros Mavroudeas
  • Alexis Ioannides

Abstract

Marx recognized two distinct but also interrelated processes of increasing surplus-value extraction: absolute and relative surplus-value. Both these processes hinge upon the duration, the intensity and the productivity of labour, albeit in different ways. The increase of the duration of labour is indisputably related to absolute surplus-value and the increase of labour productivity to relative surplus-value. However, there is controversy regarding the position of the intensity of labour. Marx's argument that it belongs to relative surplus-value is disputed by many Marxists. This paper argues that Marx's thesis is correct because the intensification of labour and the increase of its duration are ultimately two opposing trends and thus should not be coupled in the same concept.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:revpoe:v:23:y:2011:i:3:p:421-437
    DOI: 10.1080/09538259.2011.583833
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    1. Thomas T Sekine, 1997. "An Outline of the Dialectic of Capital," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37220-7, March.
    2. Thomas T. Sekine, 1997. "An Outline of the Dialectic of Capital," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-0-230-37835-3, March.
    3. Makoto Itoh, 1988. "The Basic Theory of Capitalism," Palgrave Macmillan Books, Palgrave Macmillan, number 978-1-349-19107-9, March.
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    2. Stavros Mavroudeas, 2012. "The Limits of Regulation," Books, Edward Elgar Publishing, number 14643.
    3. Stefano Di Bucchianico, 2020. "A note on financialization from a Classical-Keynesian standpoint," Department of Economics University of Siena 824, Department of Economics, University of Siena.
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    6. Cajas Guijarro, John & Vera, Leonardo, 2022. "The macrodynamics of an endogenous business cycle model of marxist inspiration," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 62(C), pages 566-585.
    7. Weimin Ma & Xiaodong Ji, 2016. "Online Work-Break Problem and its Competitive Analysis," Asia-Pacific Journal of Operational Research (APJOR), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 33(02), pages 1-17, April.

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