2. Remaining labor time/necessary labor time

Surplus value/variable capital, surplus labor time/necessary labor time are two expressions of surplus value rate formula. In the formula of surplus value/variable capital, because variable capital is used to buy labor, surplus value is not produced by all capital, but by variable capital. Therefore, the ratio of surplus value to variable capital reflects the degree of exploitation of workers by capitalists. Because surplus value is produced by workers in surplus labor time, the ratio of surplus labor time to necessary labor time reflects the degree of exploitation of workers by capitalists.

Extended data:

Marxism holds that under the action of the law of profit equalization, the value growth (that is, surplus value) generated in the general production process is directly proportional to the total value of input (including the sum of labor value and means of production value). This will inevitably form a natural law of surplus value distribution: the value increment (that is, surplus value) generated by the general production process will be distributed according to the proportion of labor value or production material value invested by each subject. In other words, whoever owns and puts into the production process more means of production will be allocated more surplus value.

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