| This question <26|34> overall <32|34> LTC: <410|171>. graded B+ |
| 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? |
| [33] LTC: One may automatically assume that the longer it takes to make a product, the more valuable it will be. This may be due to the fact that more time and energy, not to mention the “unique contribution” (Ehrbar 40) that went into making the product will increase the quality and scarcity of the item. However, that is not entirely true. Capitalism has created such a society that more is valuable and less time is a necessity to produce the product. Individuals and society as a whole insatiably want products now. Although they enjoy quality, they exchange that for availability. Waiting six months for a hand crafted commodity will not suffice the demand for the product. Therefore, demand creates its own supply and producers rush to satisfy that demand. That imitation product will then be more available and cheaper, which eventually marginalizes the input of the slow producer and makes them go unrecognized among society, thus lowering the value of the product. |
| Society consequently has the decision to keep the value of the output of slow workers below the time needed for its production. If they view slow workers as inept or lazy, they are then unproductive. Consumers will devalue the item and move demand onto an item they can get easily and is produced by a large name company they can trust. Marx expresses this, which is outlined in the annotations by Hans, by stating “'The labor time of the individual is thus, in fact, the labor time required by society to produce a particular use value, that is to satisfy a particular want'” (Ehrbar 38). |
| The enforcement of this is simple. As Hans put it in the annotations, “A worker who is slower than the others will not find a job in capitalism” (Ehrbar 41). Large producers will simply terminate or drive out the slower worker and replace him or her with someone or something that can do the job faster and cheaper. |
| Hans: Re-reading your message [33] I realize that I was too harsh on your grading. Sorry about this. I am changing your grade to a B+. |
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