How can the capitalists increase relative surplus value?
Marx’s definition of relative surplus value was given above along with his definition of absolute surplus value. Relative surplus value is increased by a reduction in the labor value of variable capital for an unchanged working day (S + V). This reduction can be accomplished by: • Decreasing the wage • Increasing the intensity with which laborers work • Reducing wasted output and output that cannot be sold because of inadequate quality • Reducing the use of material inputs per unit output, for example, by reducing wasted inputs • Adopting more productive machines and using existing machines more efficiently Since surplus value is the source of profits, it is in the capitalists’ interest to increase both absolute and relative surplus value. Marx provided an analysis of many historical and contemporary examples of the practical consequences of these pressures.
