The classic debate is one on value. Marxians state that the value of a product or equally a service is based on the labor content. In contrast the value could equally be determined in the eye of the buyer.
Let me examine a small example, tree removal. Now we have a bunch of white ash all infected and to be removed by the town because they are on town property. We also have lots of other trees on private property needing removal for a variety of reasons.
Town trees are removed by the town by town employees who are union and paid by the hour. Non town trees are removed by competing companies with workers usually being Central or South Americans. The result:
1. Town trees take 2-3 days to remove one tree. Why work any harder. There are plenty of trees.
2. Non Town trees get 3 to six per day per crew. They get paid by the number of trees removed not by the hour.
Now what would Marx say a fair price for tree removal should be? The union labor town employee slow worker price of an inflated wage or the competitive price of private business? Same result just that it costs 6-20 times more for the town to remove a tree than if one gets a local company to do so.
So much for Marx.
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