Surplus Value Calculator FAQ
1. What is "Surplus Value"?
Surplus Value measures the extra value generated by employees beyond their compensation. Calculated as:
Revenue Attributable to Labor – Labor Costs
(Note: While the term originates from economic theoryMarx's Definition: The difference between a worker's output value and their wage. (SPCalc uses this as a neutral financial metric.), we apply it as a productivity benchmark.)
2. How is Surplus Value different from Profit?
- Profit = Total Revenue – All Costs
- Surplus Value = Only Labor's Revenue – Labor Costs
→ Isolates how much value your team creates after wages are paid.
3. Surplus Value vs. Revenue Per Employee (RPE)?
- RPE = Total Revenue / Employees (Overall productivity)
- Surplus Value = Labor's net value after wages are paid
4. Surplus Value vs. Profit Per Employee
- Profit Per Employee = Net Profit / Employees (Company efficiency)
- Surplus Value = Labor's direct profitability
Key Insight:
High Profit Per Employee + Low Surplus Value = Labor's value isn't fully reflected in pay.
How to Use This:
Employees: Use this gap to advocate for raises or profit-sharing.
5. Why Track Surplus Value?
- For Employees: Quantify your team's contribution
- For Managers: Align pay with value creation
- For Startups: Balance hiring costs vs. growth
- For Investors: Assess labor efficiency
6. Is This About "Exploitation"?
No. SPCalc makes no moral judgments. Some theoriesMarxist: Views pay-value gaps as systemic issue.
Neoclassical: Attributes gaps to innovation incentives. interpret these gaps differently. We just crunch the numbers.
7. Data Sources & Accuracy
- Sources: [BLS], [SEC filings], and other verified public datasets
- Transparency: All estimates/assumptions are flagged in results
- Updates: Monthly/quarterly (see Data Sources)