SURPLUS-VALUE : The surplus produced over and above what is required to survive, which is translated into profit in capitalism. Since the capitalist pays a laborer for his/her labor, the capitalist claims to own the means of production, the worker's labor-power, and even the product that is thus produced. The capitalist thus buys a product (labor-power, which is then turned into commodities), which s/he then sells at a profit on the market. Rather than exchange a commodity for money in order to buy another commodity of use to the consumer (selling in order to buy), the capitalist buys something in order to sell at a profit margin. The capitalist is thus driven by profit-making in and of itself, without regard to use-value or the suffering of the laborer. See money.

 

 

 

 

 

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