| This question <164-4|26> overall <24|26> DuckSoup: <470|105>. graded A |
| Question 70: The value of a commodity does not increase if it is made by a slow or inept laborer. Explain carefully why not. Whose decision is it to keep the value of the output of a slow worker below the time actually used for its production? How is it enforced? |
| [25] DuckSoup: Commodities made by slow or inept laborers The socially necessary labor time required to produce the commodity determines the value of the commodity. A complex process that includes, but is not limited to, the use of up to date technology, the amount of labor it takes to locate and/or raise and supply the raw materials, labor required to make the tools needed, and the average time spent making the article determines the socially necessary labor time. Thus, the commodity produced by the artisan, the inept laborer, or the person who does not have access to up to date technology has the same price as the same commodity made by the average laborer using up to date technology. This pricing is determined at the core level, by the median value of all of the articles. Value is enforced from the surface by the price that the buyers are paying for the average workers commodity. |
| The skilled person has no incentive to utilize his or her ability and the inept person soon may be forced to find other employment. This would seem to reinforce the average, creating less likelihood of improvement either aesthetically or technologically by individuals. |
| A key aspect to this seems to be the use value. It is important to stress that this only makes sense if the use value is the same for all articles. It is clear that use value of a commodity is different from exchange value, but in some cases, let's say a table, the exchange value would be greater if a skilled craftsman made it. It would not only be functional, but also aesthetically pleasing. This would increase the price of the commodity, but, I speculate that the pull of the socially necessary labor time that is contained in the majority of the dressers would decrease the price of the skillfully crafted dresser, making the time spent by the craftsman still inequitable. |
| Hans: I concur with the speculation in your last paragraph, I think this is a realistic conjecture. |
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