Topic > Summary of Marx's doctrine of increasing poverty - 1682

The wage will continue to decrease due to the decrease in the share of variable capital compared to the increase in constant capital and surplus value. The only tool workers have to combat this decline is their bargaining power. But even if workers managed to keep their wages above the previously existing subsistence level, the wage would still be lower because, although the quantity of goods increases, the value of the goods decreases. So, instead of improving their livelihood, workers would spend less of their working day producing for their livelihood and more producing surplus value for their livelihood.