To get a firm grasp of Marx’s theories in relation to work its is imperative to understand his definition of work. Marx argues that work is not something that happens from nine to five, but is an ongoing activity, that work is about individual creativity and how we develop ourselves and our environment. Marx classifies work as an expression of our beliefs and assumptions, that every activity we do changes our outlook of the world. (Say we read a book, e.g. Harry Potter, it changes our thinking of magic and gives us the urge to be part of the fictitious world, hence, the amazing success of the movies). In his argument he refutes the idea that individuals have choices about their work. He clarifies that now career decisions are made by comparing monetary gains and not by what individuals want and are willing to create.
Marx in his work has an intense focus on capitalism and the way in which it has changed our lives. He starts off with his emphasizes on the idea that the effects of capitalism wont be restricted by boundaries and that although capitalism is very productive, the way in which its effects are handled poses a problem. (e.g. wheat is thrown away in the U.S while Africa has famines.) He argues that although work in a modern capitalist system is mutually beneficial, it proves to be systematically unequal. i.e. that people wont get the true value of their work. Marx introduces his notion of exchange and intrinsic values where the monetary or the physical exchange (exchange value) is preferred over the benefit that good might present (intrinsic value). (e.g. the U.S throws wheat away as no one is willing to pay them for it and if they gave it to Africa the famines would stop.) He stresses that the greed for monetary gain or exchange value will shun morality and lead to exploitation.
In his theories about labour, Marx explains that labour creates its own value, and as exchange value dominates the market people aren’t really allowed to create. They have to work for their well-being and are willing to switch careers if it represents a monetary increase. He stresses the need for creativity in work and refers to present work as merciless vandalism where the intrinsic value of a task is ignored. He furthers his theory by stating that a capitalist approach will necessarily alienate an individual from the product he is working with. Work is going to be more and more mechanistic where individuals will be expected to do routine tasks while distancing themselves from creativity and humanity. He further illuminates that money becomes the link between relationships with no emotions or meaning.
Marx reflects that an increase in the surplus value that we generate leads to more benefits, and here clarifies the difference between absolute and relative surplus. He explains that where absolute surplus is the result of a direct increase in an activity (increasing the number of hours worked) relative surplus results as an increase in efficiency with a simultaneous decrease in costs. Marx explains that capitalist reformation is based on competition and innovation to outdo others on the market with a necessary increase in market share. Capitalisms effects will include concentration of ownership where only a few firms dominate the world markets and which in turn will lead to exploitation. Marx also refutes the idea that globalization is a new issue and illustrates that it was something waiting to happen. With increased competition and saturation of home markets firms will look to find new markets for their goods and research will concentrate on developing products that can be sold rather than be beneficial (exchange value supersedes intrinsic value).
Marx also talks about capitalism in the long run where he says that there will always be periods of good and bad times. He negates the idea that there will be constant growth in world markets and states that the profit ratio of firms will eventually start to fall. He attributes this to the fact that firms will run out of cheap labour as capitalism dominates the world and workers exchange value will supersede their intrinsic value. Marx goes on to say capitalism will result it two classes, an increasingly poor majority and an increasingly rich minority. He further explains that this class difference, an increased concentration of ownership and falling profits will necessarily hinder progress leading to the death of capitalism.
