In response to this comment by Paul C, >> 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 Jerry writes >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. Gil wrote: But changing the intensity of labor leads directly to effect (2) above by altering the socially necessary labor time embodied in the wage bundle. It might also indirectly lead to effect (3) by changing the average caloric requirements of workers, or effect (1) by making it possible to extend the working day (because workers are expending *less* effort per hour) or making it necessary to reduce the working day (because workers are expending so much extra effort per hour that they're too exhausted to perform well in the marginal hours). Bottom line, changes in labor intensity would necessarily show up in at least 1 of Paul's 3. Gil I add: Gil, you seem somehow to be able to reckon the intensity of labor without any reference to money or prices. That is, if yesterday I added $100 to the means of production with which I worked for 10 hours and today I add $110 by working harder for 10 hours, it's unclear to me how my wage bundle will change or the length of my working day will change. Further, I do not understand why my efforts can't be seen as a possible general case with the assumption that the value of money is constant. John
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