The Corn Model, Gluts and Surplus Value

The controversy over Ricardo`s corn model has focussed on the interpretation of his early writings. Here Ricardo`s later use of a corn model example in his dispute with Malthus over gluts is discussed. Malthus`s own extensive use of a corn model in attempting to justify his use of a labour commanded measure of value is analysed; it is shown that he calculates what Marx was to describe as surplus value from the physical conductions of production and the real wage.