Use-Value of the Commodity Labor-Power

The use-value of the commodity labor-power is labor. Compared with other commodities, the most important characteristic of the commodity labor-power is the particularity of its use-value. When a commodity in general is utilized or consumed, the use-value disappears or is transferred to other commodities, and no valorization of value [expansion of value] takes place. The commodity labor-power is different. The utilization or consumption of labor-power is the labor-process of the worker; its use-value is the capability of creating value. This capability cannot only create new value in the production process, but also create greater value than its own value. The portion of value which exceeds the value of labor-power and is appropriated by the capitalist without compensation, is surplus-value. This particular use-value of labor-power is decisive for the transformation of money into capital.