Surplus value is the amount of profit that is created by an employee by exceeding the cost of his own labor. At the same time, the manufactured products, as well as the time spent, are assigned free of charge by the employer. This term expresses a specific form of exploitation that fully complies with the basic
economic law of capitalism. However, such a concept can illustrate not only the relationship between the worker and the employer, but also between various groups of the so-called bourgeoisie, for example, landowners and industrialists, bankers and traders. Surplus value, as well as ways to increase it, can play a significant role in the effective development of
productive forces and
production relations. The prerequisites for the appearance of the aforementioned term is the conversion of labor into a product or service. Indeed, only at a certain stage in the formation of society, the employer could find an employee independent of the
means of production .
The source of surplus value may vary in form. Absolute, excess and relative groups are distinguished. The first is achieved by increasing the operating time or by achieving a higher intensity. The second is obtained by increasing the productivity of each individual relative to the average level. The third form, which can be represented by surplus value, is obtained as a result of reducing the share of labor costs. Such categories are historically established and fully characterize the ways of increasing this parameter. Nevertheless, despite a sufficient number of differences, all of these methods have one important common factor - the unchanged labor force invariably serves as a source .
The rate of surplus value is the ratio of the mass of all surplus value to the cost of labor required for its production. Thus, the above concept can be described as the degree of exploitation of one person by another.
The theory of surplus value is limited by both theoretical arguments and historical facts. The role of the latter was played by the history of the formation and development of states, and the forms of the economic structure of society, for example, marginalism and neoclassicism.
Consider also the production process, as a result of which surplus value can be obtained. By acquiring labor, the employer can begin to organize the production process, developing it in such a way that the hired employee daily would not only create a value in an amount equivalent to his labor, but also a value that would subsequently become his salary. The latter is considered an unpaid component of the entrepreneur. Therefore, it is surplus value.