On Sat, 21 Sep 1996, Gerald Levy wrote:
> When v = 0, s/v becomes reduced to the simple identity of s/0.
> How is this a meaningful statement (or "instructive", to use Allin's
> phrase in #3077)?
I agree with Jerry's substantive point, namely that assuming v = 0
is tantamount to assuming away capitalist relations of production.
But still, seeing what happens when certain quantities approach
their limits can be instructive. Agreed, s/0 is not a rational
expression, but I have long thought that it would be better to
express the rate of surplus value as s/(s+v), the fraction of the
working day appropriated by capital. In that light, the
question is whether anything useful can be derived by thinking
about the case where s/(s+v) tends towards unity.
Allin.