@gandalf_der_12te@discuss.tchncs.de
2026-03-19 18:28 UTC
I believe that the "falling rate of profit" is actually a real phenomenon, but it is not *only* caused by workers not being able to afford stuff.
It's also partially caused by other companies learning to produce the same products, which drives up competition, reduces monopolies and therefore reduces profits. Like consider medicine.
When you develop a new medicine, the first 20 years you have a patent right and therefore nobody else can produce the stuff. So you can set arbitrary prices and as long as people pay for it, you profit. But after your patent runs out, every company can produce it, which leads to cheap generica, and the rate of profit reduces significantly.
Replies (3)
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@Liketearsinrain@lemmy.ml 2026-03-19 19:41
This is very well studied. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tendency_of_the_rate_of_profit_to_fall
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@sharkfucker420@lemmy.ml 2026-03-19 19:44
You are correct yeah, it is more complex than the meme presents but I thought it was funny
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@plyth@feddit.org 2026-03-19 18:41
> other companies learning to produce the same products Other companies *in China*. Other companies in China cannot be bought and taken off the market. The big question is: How are western profits going to be protected?