In 5587, Paul C. wrote: On Tue, 15 May 2001, you wrote: > Re John's [5573]: > > > Jerry, it seems to me that necessary labor time > > would not change due to an increase of > > productivity in the luxury goods sector if > > one assumes that all processes are equally > > profitable prior to the change in productivity in > > that sector. However, as the > > change occurs, the luxury goods producer would > earn a higher rate of > return and the workers > > would be creating more social value than before. > > Yes, they would be creating more value during > the same working hours (i.e. there would be no > increase in absolute surplus value). Increase in productivity does not equate with increase in value. Au contraire to relative devaluation of the product. My comment: Ultimately, you're right. However, if we look at the way Marx introduces us to the concept of relative surplus value, we find workers creating more *social* value immediately after productivity doubles. Recall that workers are generating social values greater than the individual value they produce as the productivity doubles. Marx notes that this is an increase in the rate of surplus value. John
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