In capitalism, the exploitation of the proletariat occurs solely because they are paid less than the total value of their labor output.

In capitalism, exploitation refers to how workers, known as the proletariat, often receive less money than the full value of what they produce. This happens because employers want to maximize their profits, so they pay workers only a fraction of the wealth created by their labor. For example, if a worker produces goods worth $100 in a day but is only paid $70, the employer keeps the remaining $30 as profit. This system creates a situation where workers may struggle to meet their needs even though they are generating significant value. Therefore, the gap between what workers earn and what they produce is a key reason why exploitation occurs in capitalism.