Übermaßwerten

Übermaßwerten is a German term that translates to "excess values" or "surplus values." In economics, it often refers to profit generated by labor that exceeds the value of the wages paid to the worker. This concept is central to the labor theory of value, particularly as developed by Karl Marx. Marx argued that the capitalist system inherently generates Übermaßwerten, which are then appropriated by the capitalist as profit. He distinguished between necessary labor, which produces the value equivalent to the worker's wages, and surplus labor, which produces the Übermaßwerten.

The existence and extraction of Übermaßwerten are seen by Marxist theory as the basis of exploitation within capitalism. Critics of this theory argue that it oversimplifies the complex factors contributing to profit, such as risk-taking, innovation, and capital investment. The concept remains a significant point of discussion in economic and political discourse, especially in critiques of capitalism and discussions about income inequality. While not a widely used term in mainstream economics outside of Marxist scholarship, the underlying idea of value generated beyond the cost of labor is a fundamental aspect of analyzing economic systems.