Relative Form of Value

One of the forms of appearance of value of the commodity exchange. It is in the position of “the commodity in which its value is expressed” in the same expression of value, constitutes the other pole in opposition to the pole of the equivalent form. The equivalent form and the relative form of value are two moments which belong together, mutually condition each other, and cannot be separated; but, at the same time, they are mutually exclusive or opposite extremes. “The antagonism between the relative form of value and the equivalent form, the two poles of the value form, is developed concurrently with that form itself.”

With the development of commodity exchange and commodity production, the form of value also develops. The first stage is the simple, individual or accidental form of value, where the two extremes of the expression of value are the simple relative form of value versus the individual equivalent form. The simple relative value form is an insufficient embryonic form, which must undergo a series of metamorphoses before ripening into the price form. For example, 20 yards of linen = 1 coat, or commodity A = commodity B.

This equation is between two commodities of different and incomparable natures in terms of their use-value, whereas in this case it is human labor in general that is in an exchange relation of equal quantities as a homogeneous substance. Through the value relation, the natural form of the commodity B becomes the form of value of the commodity A, or, the physical body of the commodity B becomes the mirror which reflects the value of the commodity A. By entering into a relation with commodity B as the embodiment of value, as a materialization of abstract human labor, commodity A turns the use-value B into the material which its value is expressed. The value of the commodity A, thus expressed in the use-value of commodity B, has the relative form of value.

The second stage is the total or expanded form of value, which is characterized by the expanded relative form of value versus the particular equivalent form. The third stage is the general form of value, which is characterized by the general relative form of value versus the general equivalent, while the fourth stage, the money form, is characterized by the general relative value form versus money. At this stage of development, all commodities with their varied natural forms have a form of value in common, i.e., the money form.