The Relationship of the Working Class to Capital

The working class consists of people who sell their labor to businesses in exchange for wages. They produce goods and services but do not own the means of production, such as factories or land. Capital refers to these means of production and the wealth used to generate profit. The relationship is one of dependency—workers rely on wages, while capital owners seek to maximize profits often by controlling labor conditions. This dynamic can lead to power imbalances, where capital owners have significant influence over workers’ wages and job security, shaping economic and social structures.