[Marxism] Socially Necessary Abstract(?) Labor Time

[Paddy Apling]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Philip Dunn" <hyl0morphster at googlemail.com>
To: <e.c.apling at btinternet.com>
Sent: Friday, March 21, 2008 8:05 AM
Subject: Re: [Marxism] Socially Necessary Abstract(?) Labor Time

Philip says:
<snip>


> The question is whether abstract labour exists as an entity in addition
> to concrete labours. Does the commodity exist as well as the use-value?
> Or is value a property of use-values?

Most definitely not a measure of use-value; it is clear that 
socially-necessary labour-time is the basic determinant of the 
exchange-value of commodities (including the specific value of the labour 
power of different sectors of the working class - which is itself a 
commodity under capitalism).

The fact that this value is determined socially in different societies - 
(and therefore differs in the various regions of the world) is the basis of 
the super-profits of the metropolitan capitalist societies resulting from 
"free trade" with the poorer regions of the world.

Paddy
http://apling.freeservers.com