Chapter 13: Production Time

Another pretty straightforward chapter. Here Marx distinguishes between working time (in which labor is acting) and production time (time in which a product is being produced but with little or no added labor). Production time is the larger category, and working time fits within it. The best example for me is that of wine. Lucy stamps on the grapes—working time. But then it has to ferment—production time w/o labor.


Turnover time depends on production time. Usually the fermentation time (what I am calling the production time w/o labor) is determined by natural forces. It can sometimes be shortened, however, by artificial means. So here we see science or the general intellect once again meddling in more-than-human affairs for the sake of capital.

He goes to some length showing how this difference between production time and working time is a big deal in agriculture. Easy peasy.

Interesting fact is on page 319, though, when he eplains how “the distinction between production period and working period, with the latter forming only a part of the former, constitutes the natural basis for the unification of agriculture with rural subsidiary industries, just as these, in turn, are points of vantage for the capitalist, who first intrudes in his capacity as merchant” (319). The peasant, when he is unable to farm, engages in other small industries. When the capitalist takes over agriculture, rural worker must depend solely on these little jobs (if he is not employed by capitalist), and eventually these little jobs too are subsumed by capitalist production. We see how the condition of the worker worsens. D
Also discusses timber-raising. Doesn’t seem to be the best job for capitalists because of the length of its turnover time due to its long natural production time. Capitalists would rather cut down trees and build factories. “The development of civilization and industry in general has always shown itself so active in the destruction of forests that everything that has been done for their conservation and production is completely insignificant in comparison” (322). This is our ecological chapter.

Discusses stocks again.

Nice summary on page 324: “The circulating capital can be in its production time before it enters the actual labour process (manufacture of lasts); it may still be in production time after it has undergone the actual labour process (wine, seed-corn); the production time may be occasionally interrupted by labour time (filed crops, timber); or a large part of the product in a condition ready for circulation may remain incorporated in the active production process, while a much smaller part enters into the annual circulation (timber and cattle-growing); the greater or lesser length of time, thus the greater or lesser measure in which circulating capital has to be laid out all at once in the form of potential productive capital, partly arises from the kind of production process (agriculture) and partly depends on the proximity of markets, etc., in short, on circumstances that belong to the circulation sphere” (324).