Since the labourer generally converts his wages into means of
 subsistence, and for the overwhelmingly larger part into absolute necessities,
 the demand of the capitalist for labour-power is indirectly also a demand
 for the articles of consumption essential to the working-class. But this
 demand is equal to v and not one iota greater (if the labourer saves a
 part of his wages — we necessarily discard here all credit relations —
 he converts part of his wages into a hoard and to that extent does not
 act as a bidder, a purchaser). The upper limit of a capitalist’s demand
 is C, equal to c + v, but his supply is equal to c + v + s. Consequently
 if the composition of his commodity-capital is 80c + 20v
 + 20s, his demand is equal to 80c + 20v, hence, considered from the angle of the value it contains, one-fifth smaller than his supply. The greater the percentage of the mass of surplus-value produced by him
 (his rate of profit) the smaller becomes his demand in relation to his
 supply. Although with the further development of production the demand
 of the capitalist for labour-power, and thus indirectly for necessary means
 of subsistence, steadily decreases compared with his demand for means of
 production, it must not be forgotten on the other hand that his demand
 for MP is always smaller than his capital. His demand for means of production
 must therefore always be smaller in value than the commodity-product of
 the capitalist who, working with a capital of equal value and under equal
 conditions, furnishes him with those means of production. That many capitalists
 and not only one do the furnishing does not alter the case. Take it that
 his capital is £1,000, and its constant part £800; then his
 demand on all these capitalists is equal to £800. Together they supply
 means of production worth £1,200 for each £1,000 (regardless
 of what share in each £1,000 may fall to each one of them and of
 the fraction of his total capital which the share of each may represent),
 assuming that the rate of profit is the same. Consequently his demand covers
 only two-thirds of their supply, while his own total demand amounts to
 only four-fifths of his own supply, measured in value.