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[89] Desk: The Value of a Commodity. When I look at the definition of commodity according to Marx I see
that a commodity is something for which there is demand, but which is
supplied without qualitative differentiation across a given market.
Every commodity has a certain value attached to it which requires work
at a given point. That is where the joint work of all commodities
comes into play when you express the value of one commodity. Thomas
Cooper explained something great with one simple phrase “Take away
from a piece of bread the labor bestowed by the baker on the flour, by
the miller on the grain brought to him, by the farmer in plowing,
sowing, tending, gathering, threshing, cleaning and transporting the
seed, and what will remain? A few grains of grass, growing wild in the
woods, and unfit for any human purpose.” This statement describes
perfectly what is meant by the joint work of all commodities which is
necessary to express the value of one commodity. Marx explains that
all commodities express values in the General equivalent, this general
equivalent commodity is directly exchangeable with all commodities. If
you take an ordinary commodity to market, two questions must be
resolved for a change to go through: (1) does your trading partner
need your commodity and (2) how much of his own commodity is he going
to give you for your commodity. (159:2) In the case of this piece of
bread, everyone is reliant on every one's commodity, the trade must
take place. There will be shared values given to reap the reward in
the end. This also is why you will pay more for the one commodity
(bread) while you do not see the joint work that takes place to make
it possible. |
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