Capital , Chapter 8:

Capital, Chapter 8:Capital, Chapter 8:

Constant & Variable CapitalConstant & Variable Capital

Constant CapitalConstant Capital

Money invested in MP Money invested in MP (means of (means of production)production)

MP as embodiment of value investedMP as embodiment of value invested MP in value termsMP in value terms ““Constant” because value contribution to Constant” because value contribution to

final product C’ is given by amount of final product C’ is given by amount of past laborpast labor

Variable CapitalVariable Capital

Money invested in LP (labor power)Money invested in LP (labor power) LP as embodiment of value investedLP as embodiment of value invested LP in value termsLP in value terms ““Variable” because the amount of new Variable” because the amount of new

value contributed by living labor can value contributed by living labor can varyvary

Language ProblemsLanguage Problems

Marx uses as misleading language:Marx uses as misleading language: labor “preserves” valuelabor “preserves” value labor “creates” valuelabor “creates” value labor “transfers” valuelabor “transfers” value

All these are transitive verbsAll these are transitive verbs But the substance of value is work, or But the substance of value is work, or

abstract laborabstract labor

“Preservation” of Value“Preservation” of Value

Labor in this periodLabor in this period

performed such that labor in previous performed such that labor in previous timetime

(which created MP)(which created MP) Actually contributes to the value of C’Actually contributes to the value of C’ ““Preserves” the value created in the Preserves” the value created in the

earlier period, or “transfers” it from the earlier period, or “transfers” it from the past to the present, from the MP to the C’past to the present, from the MP to the C’

“Creation” of Value“Creation” of Value

Substance of value = abstract laborSubstance of value = abstract labor Labor which is accomplished in accord Labor which is accomplished in accord

with the rules of capital with the rules of capital i.e., produces a product which is sold, and i.e., produces a product which is sold, and

on which a profit is realized,on which a profit is realized, ““creates” value; indeed it IS valuecreates” value; indeed it IS value

Repairing Constant & Variable CapitalRepairing Constant & Variable Capital

Marx considered labor that repairs a Marx considered labor that repairs a machine as part of the labor that machine as part of the labor that produces a functioning machine, thus produces a functioning machine, thus part of Cpart of C

We can apply the analysis to repair of LPWe can apply the analysis to repair of LP housework repairs LP, physically, housework repairs LP, physically,

psychologicallypsychologically but what is impact on value of LP?but what is impact on value of LP?

Housework & Value of LPHousework & Value of LP

LP - M - C(LP - M - C(MSMS)...P(2)...LP*. LP - M - C()...P(2)...LP*. LP - M - C(MSMS))

M - LP M - LPM - LP M - LP

...P(1)... C’ - M’. . . . P . . ....P(1)... C’ - M’. . . . P . . .

M - MP M - MPM - MP M - MP

P(2) influences LP*P(2) influences LP* more repair work can reduce value K must lay outmore repair work can reduce value K must lay out

less need for eating outless need for eating out less need for shrinks or prostitutes, etc.less need for shrinks or prostitutes, etc.


The Rate of Surplus ValueThe Rate of Surplus Value

Surplus ValueSurplus Value

Surplus value (S) = excess beyond VSurplus value (S) = excess beyond V Old labor = COld labor = C New Labor = V + SNew Labor = V + S S = that part of the labor workers do S = that part of the labor workers do

which goes beyond what is needed for which goes beyond what is needed for their reproduction and is appropriated their reproduction and is appropriated by Kby K

V = all the labor that produces MSV = all the labor that produces MS S = all the labor that produces MPS = all the labor that produces MP

Rate of ProfitRate of Profit

Capitalist preoccupation:Capitalist preoccupation: Rate of profit = S/(C + V) = Rate of profit = S/(C + V) = = ratio of net revenue to investment= ratio of net revenue to investment = rate of return on investment= rate of return on investment The above is in value termsThe above is in value terms In money terms there are many ways to In money terms there are many ways to

measure the rate of return on investmentmeasure the rate of return on investment

Rate of Surplus ValueRate of Surplus Value

Workers preoccupation:Workers preoccupation: Rate of Surplus Value, Rate of Rate of Surplus Value, Rate of

Exploitation: S/VExploitation: S/V S/V is ratio between two parts of V + S or S/V is ratio between two parts of V + S or

the new value the new value S/V is ratio of workers labor given over S/V is ratio of workers labor given over

to capital to that which they do for to capital to that which they do for themselvesthemselves

Senior’s Last HourSenior’s Last Hour Nassau Senior = economist and apologist Nassau Senior = economist and apologist

for business against Factory Actsfor business against Factory Acts Argued if working day was reduced one Argued if working day was reduced one

hour, all profit would be wiped outhour, all profit would be wiped out Marx shows fallacy of argument: how Marx shows fallacy of argument: how

Senior ignores material structure of Senior ignores material structure of working day and constant using up of Cworking day and constant using up of C

Marx shows drop from 9.5% to 8.5%, Marx shows drop from 9.5% to 8.5%, not 0not 0

Ure & IdlenessUre & Idleness

Andrew Ure, in his Andrew Ure, in his Philosohy of Philosohy of Manufactures Manufactures warned against reducing warned against reducing work for childrenwork for children

He argued they would be corrupted by He argued they would be corrupted by idlenessidleness

Nice expression of fundamental capitalist Nice expression of fundamental capitalist belief that work is salvation of individual belief that work is salvation of individual and social lifeand social life

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The Working DayThe Working Day

Work TIMEWork TIME Chapter 10 on Working “Day” because that Chapter 10 on Working “Day” because that

was common measure in Marx’s erawas common measure in Marx’s era Today, we think more in terms of the working Today, we think more in terms of the working

“week”, or working “year”“week”, or working “year” These measures defined:These measures defined:

by periods of waged workby periods of waged work by periods free of waged work (weekend, by periods free of waged work (weekend,

vacations)vacations) In all cases we hold “intensity” constantIn all cases we hold “intensity” constant

Sec 1: Limits of Working DaySec 1: Limits of Working Day

Length of working day (week, year) is Length of working day (week, year) is variablevariable

A . . . . B . . . . CA . . . . B . . . . C A - C total length of working dayA - C total length of working day A - B = VA - B = V B - C = SB - C = S So, capitalists try to maximize B - C So, capitalists try to maximize B - C

LimitsLimits Limit of A - C = physical limits of workersLimit of A - C = physical limits of workers Lower Limit of A - B = minimal Lower Limit of A - B = minimal

requirement of LPrequirement of LP Upper Limit of A - B = A -C? No, ave. B-CUpper Limit of A - B = A -C? No, ave. B-C Limit of B - C (S) function of :Limit of B - C (S) function of :

total time of worktotal time of work time which must be given over to LPtime which must be given over to LP

Determinant of Actual TimesDeterminant of Actual Times

Marx: “Between equal rights Marx: “Between equal rights force force decidesdecides. Hence it is that in the history of . Hence it is that in the history of capitalist production, the determination capitalist production, the determination of what is a working day, presents itself of what is a working day, presents itself as the result of a as the result of a strugglestruggle, a struggle , a struggle between collective capital, i.e., the class of between collective capital, i.e., the class of capitalists and collective labor, i.e., the capitalists and collective labor, i.e., the working class.”working class.”

StruggleStruggle

Capitalists try to lengthen working timeCapitalists try to lengthen working time Workers try to shorten working timeWorkers try to shorten working time During rise of capitalism (Prim.Accum) During rise of capitalism (Prim.Accum)

the capitalists succeeded in extending the capitalists succeeded in extending working day (see sec 5)working day (see sec 5)

Later, workers suceeded in stopping Later, workers suceeded in stopping expansion and then in reducing working expansion and then in reducing working time (see sec 6) --at least until recentlytime (see sec 6) --at least until recently

The Real Working DayThe Real Working Day

Marx’s analysis focuses on waged dayMarx’s analysis focuses on waged day We must extend that analysis to unwaged We must extend that analysis to unwaged

working day, e.g., struggle over time inworking day, e.g., struggle over time in housework (women fight for less)housework (women fight for less) schoolwork (kids fight for less)schoolwork (kids fight for less) unemployment (workers search less)unemployment (workers search less) leisure (real or re-creation of labor power?)leisure (real or re-creation of labor power?)

Sec. 2: Voracious AppetiteSec. 2: Voracious Appetite Marx: “Capital did not invent surplus Marx: “Capital did not invent surplus

labor”labor” also in slavery, feudalism, etc.also in slavery, feudalism, etc.

Ques: So what did it invent?Ques: So what did it invent? Ans: Endlessness of workAns: Endlessness of work Work determined by use-values (limited)Work determined by use-values (limited) Work determined by value/Work determined by value/ (unlimited) (unlimited) K = life organized around work K = life organized around work

(endlessly)(endlessly)

Redefinition of Surplus ValueRedefinition of Surplus Value Objection to usual definition of S: S Objection to usual definition of S: S

today is MP tomorrow which produces today is MP tomorrow which produces C(MS) so S is just V with a time-lagC(MS) so S is just V with a time-lag

Sec 2 shows understanding of S is Sec 2 shows understanding of S is dynamicdynamic

In capitalism S ≠ f(V) but V = f(S), i.e., In capitalism S ≠ f(V) but V = f(S), i.e., necessary labor time is subordinated to necessary labor time is subordinated to surplus labor timesurplus labor time

Post-capitalist society would reverse thisPost-capitalist society would reverse this

Nibbling & CribblingNibbling & Cribbling Capitalist try to maximize work: get Capitalist try to maximize work: get

workers to start early and end late, workers to start early and end late, minimize breaks: time clocksminimize breaks: time clocks

Workers’ try to start late and end early, Workers’ try to start late and end early, maximize breaksmaximize breaks Charlie Chaplin in Charlie Chaplin in Modern Times Modern Times never buy a car made on Monday or Fridaynever buy a car made on Monday or Friday playing on job: rod-blowing, surfing internetplaying on job: rod-blowing, surfing internet

Struggle over “leisure” time, school, etc.Struggle over “leisure” time, school, etc.

Sec 3: No Legal LimitsSec 3: No Legal Limits Industries with no legal limits show Industries with no legal limits show

essense of capitalism: what it does when essense of capitalism: what it does when it has the power to do soit has the power to do so

Horror stories of overwork under deadly Horror stories of overwork under deadly conditions (women, children, conditions (women, children, KaroshiKaroshi))

Farmworkers, sweat shops everywhere todayFarmworkers, sweat shops everywhere today The Jungle The Jungle provides vivid illustration of provides vivid illustration of

these things in US stockyards in 1906these things in US stockyards in 1906

Stockyards Stockyards

AdulterationAdulteration

Marx: e.g., chalk in breadMarx: e.g., chalk in bread Today: wood cellulose in breadToday: wood cellulose in bread The Jungle: rotten meat, rats in sausageThe Jungle: rotten meat, rats in sausage Today’s toxic foods:Today’s toxic foods:

30% chicken w/ salmonella 30% chicken w/ salmonella e-coli in hamburgerse-coli in hamburgers pesticides in fruit and vegetablespesticides in fruit and vegetables

SalmonellaSalmonella

Working Class ResponseWorking Class Response Protests of poor quality consumer goodsProtests of poor quality consumer goods The Jungle The Jungle led to regulation of meat led to regulation of meat

packing industrypacking industry Whisle - blowing by workers in industryWhisle - blowing by workers in industry ““Consumer movement”, Naderites, check Consumer movement”, Naderites, check

up on and fight for quality of MSup on and fight for quality of MS Resistance to de-regulation to increase Resistance to de-regulation to increase

Sec. 4: Day & Night WorkSec. 4: Day & Night Work

Marx: In the factoryMarx: In the factory Extension: in unwaged workExtension: in unwaged work

Day & Night in FactoryDay & Night in Factory

Machines need no rest, high start up costsMachines need no rest, high start up costs Fit workers to endless rhythm of Fit workers to endless rhythm of

machines to maximize capacity utilization machines to maximize capacity utilization and minimize costs (for business)and minimize costs (for business)

Night work Night work raisesraises costs to workers: costs to workers: bad for health, violates biological rhythmsbad for health, violates biological rhythms screws up social lifescrews up social life gender, age hierarchiesgender, age hierarchies

Day & Night OutsideDay & Night Outside Since LP = f(life), work of producing can Since LP = f(life), work of producing can

go on continuouslygo on continuously e.g., motherse.g., mothers

night & early morning meals, washingnight & early morning meals, washing evening homework supervisionevening homework supervision morning truant officer workmorning truant officer work no retirementno retirement

e.g., students who work at all hourse.g., students who work at all hours at homeat home in librariesin libraries especially graduate studentsespecially graduate students

Sec. 5: Struggle Over ExtensionSec. 5: Struggle Over Extension Methodology of Sections 5 & 6Methodology of Sections 5 & 6

classes as subjectsclasses as subjects language of personification, e.g., capital language of personification, e.g., capital

attacksattacks antagonism & class struggle produce antagonism & class struggle produce

patternspatterns sections trace historical patterns of struggle, sections trace historical patterns of struggle,

back and forth with one side or the other back and forth with one side or the other having the initiativehaving the initiative

Sec 5 (capital’s initiative) Sec 6 (workers’)Sec 5 (capital’s initiative) Sec 6 (workers’)

Sec 5 PatternSec 5 Pattern

t1 t2 t3 t4

Length of working day

1. capitalist initiative: expand, expand, expand2. workers resist, but in general, they lose

Marx QuoteMarx Quote

““The establishment of the normal working day is the The establishment of the normal working day is the result of centuries of struggle between the capitalist and result of centuries of struggle between the capitalist and the worker . . .Centuries are required before the ‘free’ the worker . . .Centuries are required before the ‘free’ worker owing to the greater development of the worker owing to the greater development of the capitalist mode of production, makes a voluntary capitalist mode of production, makes a voluntary agreement, i.e., is compelled by social conditions to sell agreement, i.e., is compelled by social conditions to sell the whole of his active life, his very capacity for labour, the whole of his active life, his very capacity for labour, in return for the price of his customary means of in return for the price of his customary means of subsistence, to sell his birthright for a mess of potage.”subsistence, to sell his birthright for a mess of potage.”

ResistanceResistance

Gauchos: subordinated interaction with Gauchos: subordinated interaction with market to autonomous needsmarket to autonomous needs

Freed slaves in Jamaica: “content Freed slaves in Jamaica: “content themselves with producing only what is themselves with producing only what is strictly necessary” [i.e., MS]strictly necessary” [i.e., MS]

Jack London’s JohnnyJack London’s Johnny Upton Sinclair’s JurgisUpton Sinclair’s Jurgis

Colonization of ‘Free’ TimeColonization of ‘Free’ Time

The W.C. successes in reducing the working The W.C. successes in reducing the working day (described in Sec 6) led to K attempts to day (described in Sec 6) led to K attempts to convert “free” time to work timeconvert “free” time to work time

Method: structuring the time to guarantee that Method: structuring the time to guarantee that what was done in it would contribute to the re-what was done in it would contribute to the re-creation of life as labor powercreation of life as labor power

Homework, looking for jobs, job-related study, Homework, looking for jobs, job-related study, etc etc

Struggle for Free TimeStruggle for Free Time

Such efforts to colonize free time led, Such efforts to colonize free time led, inevitably, to workers’ struggles to defend their inevitably, to workers’ struggles to defend their free time as suchfree time as such

Refusal of homework, not looking for work, Refusal of homework, not looking for work, refusing to take work home in evenings, etc.refusing to take work home in evenings, etc.

Collectively: struggle for free spaces for free Collectively: struggle for free spaces for free time, parks, natural areas, social centerstime, parks, natural areas, social centers

Sec. 6: Struggle for Limitation of hoursSec. 6: Struggle for Limitation of hours

Spontaneous resistance: absenteeism, sit-downs Spontaneous resistance: absenteeism, sit-downs on payday, etcon payday, etc

Collective resistance: Collective resistance: strikes for reduction of hoursstrikes for reduction of hours efforts to pass laws, e.g., Factory Acts in UK, hours efforts to pass laws, e.g., Factory Acts in UK, hours

and wages legislation in the USand wages legislation in the US

Capital resisted fiercelyCapital resisted fiercely reduced hours would raise costsreduced hours would raise costs reduced hours undercut work civilizationreduced hours undercut work civilization

Shift in InitiativeShift in Initiative

Before capitalist on offensive, increaseing Before capitalist on offensive, increaseing hourshours

Finally, workers on offensive, cutting themFinally, workers on offensive, cutting them

US: 1880s (75-80hrs/wk), 1940 (40hrs/wk)US: 1880s (75-80hrs/wk), 1940 (40hrs/wk)

t1t2t3t4

Sec. 7: Int’l ImpactSec. 7: Int’l Impact

International circulation of struggleInternational circulation of struggle England to France to USEngland to France to US Weakness of some workers means Weakness of some workers means

weakness of allweakness of all e.g., US: slavery undercut struggles of waged e.g., US: slavery undercut struggles of waged

workersworkers e.g., weakness of Mexican workers undercuts e.g., weakness of Mexican workers undercuts

strength of US workers todaystrength of US workers today

International Workers’ EffortsInternational Workers’ Efforts

Migration, immigration carries Migration, immigration carries experience of struggle from place to placeexperience of struggle from place to place e.g., sailors, transported workers, political e.g., sailors, transported workers, political

exiles (Owen Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria - US)exiles (Owen Saro-Wiwa, Nigeria - US) Organized effortsOrganized efforts

1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Internationals1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th Internationals multinational unions, anti-NAFTA coalitionmultinational unions, anti-NAFTA coalition EZLN “Intercontinental Network of EZLN “Intercontinental Network of

Struggles”Struggles”

Work Week & Pop MusicWork Week & Pop Music

Popular Music repeatedly manifests anti-Popular Music repeatedly manifests anti-work sentiments:work sentiments: E.Costello, “Welcome to the Working Week”E.Costello, “Welcome to the Working Week” Bangles, “Manic Monday”Bangles, “Manic Monday” Boomtown Rats, “I Don’t Like Mondays”Boomtown Rats, “I Don’t Like Mondays” D.Parton, “9 to 5”D.Parton, “9 to 5” Clash, The Magnificent SevenClash, The Magnificent Seven Kinks, Kinks, Soap Opera Soap Opera (concept album)(concept album)

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Capital , Chapter 8:

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