Mean of Production

Economics Economics Questions
1

What is the definition of the means of production? Is it at all possible to separate property which falls under ‘the means of production’ from the property that does not count as such?

We have wants that we satisfy with goods. Everything which we own we own because it produces a good for us - if it did not we would abandon it. My toothbrush is an instrument of labour with which I create the good called ‘clean teeth’, is it not?

It would seem there is no distinction but wether the property in question can be used to produce a good for someone else than myself. My toothbrush can only be used to clean my teeth so I am welcome to it. But my garden could be used to grow vegetables for the Party officials therefore I better watch out.

What do you think?

2

I think the Marxist definition involves alienation from labor. If you hire someone to brush your teeth for you, and you provide the toothbrush, then the toothbrush is a mean of production.

3

That sounds like a very good explanation on the face of it, but when I think about it more, if it held then what would be the justification for farm collectivisation? Most farmers worked their land on their own jet it was taken away from them.

4

If you’re talking about farm collectivization in the USSR, those were (mostly) peasants. They were not individual farm owners.

5

And what about the kulaks?

6

Terrible things. What does it have to do with whether or not farm collectivization in the USSR was collectivising peasants or individual farm owenrs?

7

I understand that the kulaks that rose after the NEP was implemented were pretty much individual farm owners.

8

The NEP was explicitly an anti-capitalist policy.

9

“Epicurus” apparently cannot distinguish kulaks from gulags.

10

Good point. I was thinking of Gulags