Bruksvärde

Bruksvärde is a term originating from Marxist economic theory, referring to the usefulness of a commodity or good, the qualities that make it capable of satisfying human wants and needs. It is distinct from exchange value, which is the quantitative relationship in which one commodity exchanges for another. While exchange value is determined by the socially necessary labor time required to produce a commodity, bruksvärde is determined by the concrete properties of the good itself and its ability to be used.

For example, the bruksvärde of a coat lies in its ability to provide warmth and protection from the elements. This is a qualitative aspect. Its exchange value, on the other hand, would be the amount of money or other goods it can be traded for, determined by the labor involved in its production and other market factors. Marx argued that in capitalist societies, the focus shifts from bruksvärde to exchange value, leading to the production of goods not necessarily for their utility but for their potential to generate profit.

The concept helps differentiate between the use a product serves and its economic worth in the marketplace. Understanding bruksvärde is crucial for analyzing the social and economic relationships embedded in the production and consumption of goods. It highlights how the social purpose of production can be obscured by the pursuit of exchange value.