42
The difference between profit and surplus value? (hexbear.net)
submitted 2 months ago by duderium@hexbear.net to c/marxism@hexbear.net
19 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I've been reading Capital off and on for months and this is a seemingly pretty important difference that I don't understand. Is there a difference between surplus labor and profit, and if so, what is it? Any explanations, links, or chapters in Capital I should check out are appreciated.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[-] quarrk@hexbear.net 2 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

"All economists share the error of examining surplus-value not as such, in its pure form, but in the particular forms of profit and rent. What theoretical errors must necessarily arise from this will be shown [...] in the analysis of the greatly changed form which surplus-value assumes as profit."

— Marx's opening statement to "Volume 4" of Capital, Theories of Surplus Value

There is a difference between profit and surplus-value. It can be summed up pretty much as follows:

  1. Surplus value is the general, abstract form of economic exploitation which enables a non-working ruling class. Profit is one concrete form taken by surplus-value.
  2. Profit includes constant capital. Surplus value does not.
this post was submitted on 03 Nov 2024
42 points (97.7% liked)

marxism

3688 readers
2 users here now

For the study of Marxism, and all the tendencies that fall beneath it.

Read Lenin.

Resources below are from r/communism101. Post suggestions for better resources and we'll update them.

Study Guides

Explanations

Libraries

Bookstores

Book PDFs

founded 4 years ago
MODERATORS
Alaskaball@hexbear.net
invalidusernamelol@hexbear.net