[OPE-L:5608] Re: Re: What is the effect of changes in Dept IIb/III?

[Paul Cockshott <paul@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, 16 May 2001, you wrote:
> In 5587, Paul C.  wrote:
> On Tue, 15 May 2001, you wrote:
> > Re John's [5573]:
> >
> > 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.

This is an effect of considering individual firms within an
industry. The more productive labour in that case counts
as more than 1 hour per hour, since the mean prodictivity
is lower. Jerrys example was of a rise in productivity in
a whole group of industries not in individual firms in the
industry. Under these assumptions what you have is
devaluation of the product.

>
> John
--
Paul Cockshott, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, Scotland
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