Capital, Volume I — The Production of Surplus Value
Under capitalism, the value of a commodity is determined by the socially necessary labor time The average time required to produce it under normal conditions, with average skill and intensity. embodied in it.
Workers are paid a wage that covers their necessary labor (to reproduce their labor-power), but they work longer — the extra is surplus labor, which creates surplus value — the source of profit.
ⓘ What is intensity? 1.0 = normal effort. 2.0 = worker produces twice as much value per hour (e.g., speed-ups, surveillance).
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Total Value Produced | — |
| Necessary Labor (Paid) | — |
| Surplus Labor (Unpaid) | — |
| Rate of Exploitation (s/v) | — |
| Value per Hour (at intensity 1.0) | 1.0 unit |
💡 Try this: Double the workday → surplus doubles. Halve the wage → exploitation rate doubles. This is why capitalists fight for longer hours and lower wages — it directly increases surplus value.
Amazon Warehouse Worker: 10-hour shift. Paid for 4 hours’ value (wage). Works 10. Surplus = 6 hours → Rate of exploitation = 150%. If “productivity” (intensity) increases by 20%, they produce 12 hours’ value — surplus jumps to 8 hours.