Why capitalism must grow

A simplified description of capitalism's growth compulsion, based on the argument made by Karl Marx in the 3rd volume of "Capital".

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• growth
• capitalism
• Marx
• compulsion
• imperative
• profits
• profit rate
• labor
• machines
• labor productivity
• Rotering
• Frank Rotering

[nikiwind1]

yet it is pretty clear that labour is not the only source of value

[frankr29]

@nikiwind1

Marx's claim, which the video supports, is that labour is the sole source of EXCHANGE-VALUE (not use-value) under capitalism. Stated differently, capitalism has historically "decided" to gauge the resources required for the production of an output by the socially-necessary labour time required in this production. I find this statement impossible to refute. Those who reject it almost always distort it beyond recognition. 

[CandianBear]

Is there a 3rd video on how we transition away from the growth economy? is there a video that deconstructs the transformation of industrial capitalism to modern global consumer based capitalism? the role that the marketing industry plays in maintaining and stimulating artificial demand for useless products with the consequences being a reduction of the overall mental health of the community as a result of replacing authentic urges for meaningful connections with artificial consumer identities?

[frankr29]

@CandianBear

I will be posting a video on my strategy in the next few months. The core of this strategy is a non-capitalist logic to establish rational economic outcomes (types and quantities of outputs, waste flow rates, etc.). This alternative logic is fully described in my book, "Needs and Limits".

[TheEllipsis731]

Okay... so this was sort of an objective analysis of the nature of capitalism, not an argument against it...

This and your other more technical video actually brought some aspects of capitalism to light for me... Anyway, thank you for your time

[frankr29]

The issue addressed in the video is Marx's analysis of why a capitalist economy MUST grow, based on its logic and class structure. In his analysis he made no judgment about whether or not growth is beneficial, and I followed suit. For ecological reasons an economy cannot be permitted to grow indefinitely, but that's a different topic.

[TheEllipsis731]

But wouldn't it be beneficial for the society as a whole for the economy to grow?

Because as the economy expands, the amount of profit that companies bring in increases, allowing the company to either hire more workers (reducing unemployment) and/or raise the salaries or benefits for existing employees (increasing the standard of living for the workers)...

[frankr29]

Marx's goal in "Capital" was to analyze capitalism. He concluded that it was in capital's long-term, overall interest to maintain the number of workers through growth, in order to maintain profits.

[TheEllipsis731]

So, from what I understand from this video, the goal of Marx is to keep us away from creating more efficient means of production?

[Hewr3]

Thank you very much, great video!

Long Live Communism

Long Live Marx