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Surplus value can be defined as the Marxian economic concept used in the process of explaining the instability experienced in the capitalist system. Human labor is the primary source of the economic value. Capitalists pay workers less amount than the real value of the labor offered hence making them experience surplus value. Capitalists create value as their primary objective is to create wealth and achieve competitive advantages in the market. The low labor costs help in reducing the costs of production hence increasing the profits. For example, the capitalists can adopt cost leadership strategies that require low costs of production hence exploiting the workers to maximize surplus value.
Surplus value is extracted from the workers by the low valuation of labor resulting in low pay. Therefore, it can be concluded that the capitalists extract surplus value through exploiting the workers (Harvey, 2008). For example, the capitalists pay wages that are below the market wages hence realizing surplus value. It is the low labor costs incurred by the capitalists that they can realize surplus value.
Urban cities are facing radical expansions with many transformations in the lifestyles of the people hence a distraction for the engagement in the civic life. The level of city life has been quantified just like the city itself as the ability to spend, and the level of disposable income are the main determinants of the kind of life people in the city live. The urban political economy is being driven by knowledge and cultural based industries, consumerism and tourism. Also, the contemporary experience in the urban is geared by the cultural forms and consumer habits. The freedom of choice in the urban areas is determined by the ability to pay for goods and services hence distracting civic life where people have converted everything to money. Pacification by cappuccino is used by Harvey to explain the changes taking place in the urban cities (Harvey, 2008). New lifestyles are developed in the process of meeting the urban dreams with increased possessive individualism abandoning the collective actions. Harvey explains how the urbanization has led to increased capitalist spirit where people are struggling for their economic benefits but collective benefits for the society at large.
Considering the ideals of human rights can be important in the process of developing an urban environment that reflects equality and human-centeredness. The redesigning of the cities need to consider the well-being of people by controlling the economic activities in the urban areas. Also, the city can be redesigned to accommodate some elements of morals and ethics to make life in cities affordable. Everything should not be converted to money to make the life of the urban dwellers able to survive in the cities. Citizens have the right to affordable services and products hence the need to redesign the city to make the basic products and services affordable. I feel improving the life of every citizen in the city is what it means for the citizens to have the right to the city. Also, considering the interests of the citizens plays an important role in making sure that the citizens have the right to the city.
Reference
Harvey, D. (2008). The right to the city. The City Reader, 6, 23-40.
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