Labor and Labor-power

[tunes]

So I'm having a little trouble making a concrete distinction between the terms 'labor' and 'labor-power'.

If I were asked 'What does a worker agree to exchange for a wage?', I would answer 'his or her labor'.

But I continue to hear that answer is insufficient, even illusory, and really the worker doesn't exchange labor, but labor-power - the ability to labor.

Why make the distinction? It's very hard for me to see any difference.

Thank you for the help.

[Leo]

So I'm having a little trouble making a concrete distinction between the terms 'labor' and 'labor-power'.

If I were asked 'What does a worker agree to exchange for a wage?', I would answer 'his or her labor'.

But I continue to hear that answer is insufficient, even illusory, and really the worker doesn't exchange labor, but labor-power - the ability to labor.

Why make the distinction? It's very hard for me to see any difference.

According to Marx, "Labor-power" is the ability of workers to work, given their muscles and brains. "Labor" is the actual activity of producing "Value", which is equal to the amount of "Labor" required to produce it, including the "Labor" required to produce the raw materials and machinery used in the process.. The profit or surplus-value arises when workers do more "Labor" than is necessary to pay the cost of hiring their "Labor-power". Initially, the worker agree to exchange his "Labor-power" for a wage, however the capitalist acquires "Labor" of the worker.

[Leo]

Actually, we should discuss the LTV more.