Theory

Private reproductive labor is social labor!

Around eight weeks ago, Hermann Lueer published a critique of our text on the socialization of private reproductive labor. His article, titled “Social versus Private Reproductive Labor,” accuses us of reducing the Marxist calculation of labor time to absurdity. The starting point of this critique is our consideration of how private reproductive labor—especially in the […]

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Critique of Commonism

Simon Sutterlütti and Stefan Meretz outline in “Kapitalismus aufheben” (2018) commonism as a post-capitalist society in which commons sustain production and distribution, work is organized voluntarily, and the means of production are socialized. In his German-language review, Hermann Lueer highlights the strengths of the book while also exposing the theoretical limits of the commonist project.

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The Opportunity of Labor-Time Calculation for the Problem of Private Reproductive Labor

Abstract How can private reproductive labor be socialized under socialism? The text analyzes the political, cultural, and structural particularities of private reproductive labor and shows how labor-time calculation could serve as a tool to recognize it economically and, consequently, politically. Introduction to Labor-Time Calculation Labor-time calculation, as developed by the “Group of International Communists” (GIC)

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The Forgotten Logic of Communism

Untergrundblättle pays tribute with the article “Die vergessene Logik des Kommunismus” to the “Fundamental Principles” formulated by Jan Appel in prison in 1925 — the central theoretical text on labour-time accounting. The article by Herman Lueer is available in German and English and is highly recommended reading! We will bring the year to a dignified

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Decentralized Socialist Economic Planning

Robin Hahnel, the founder of the planned economic model Parecon, criticized labor-time calculation in his May 2025 article “Labor Time Accounting: A Postmortem”: “The point is that labor time is not the only real cost of making different goods and services. There are environmental costs, which along with labor costs, should clearly be accounted for

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Talks in Mülheim and Dortmund

In mid-October we’re heading to the Ruhr! In Dortmund and Mülheim we’ll be giving two talks promoting the concept of working-time accounting – and bringing together what belongs together: workplace self-management and democratic planned economy as an emancipatory alternative to capitalism! 16.10. AZ Mülheim (https://www.az-muelheim.de/kontaktweg/)17.10. Black Pigeon Dortmund (https://black-pigeon.org/kontakt/)Both at 7 p.m. – free entry

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