In [5428] Paul C wrote: > The only three ways the rate of surplus value > can change are > 1. changes in the length of the working day > 2. cheapening or dearing of the wage bundle in > labour terms > 3. changing the wage bundle in real terms These are not the 'only' ways in which the rate of surplus value can change: the rate of surplus value will also change when there is a change in the intensity of labor. As we have discussed previously, there are *international and regional* variations in the intensity of labor which then lead to international and regional variations in the rate of surplus value. The intensity of labor, I would suggest, also varies over the course of the *business cycle*, e.g. the bargaining power of management vis-a-vis labor tends to be increased with the increase in the industrial reserve army that accompanies the contraction which helps to increase management's ability to squeeze more surplus value out of workers be speeding them up. The assumption that there is a uniform intensity of labor is defied by capitalists the world over who constantly seek (with varying rates of success and failure) to increase the intensity of labor. Capitalists and workers both recognize the importance of struggles over the intensity of labor -- so should we. In solidarity, Jerry
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b30 : Wed May 02 2001 - 00:00:06 EDT