Absolute Deterioration of the Condition of the Proletariat, a decrease in the standard of living of the proletariat under capitalism. Like the relative deterioration of the condition of the proletariat, it is a direct consequence of the operation of the basic economic law of capitalism and of the general law of capitalist accumulation. It is manifested in the deterioration of living and working conditions and the worse social position of the proletariat. The major indicator of it is the constantly increasing gap between the value of labour power and the real wages of the workers (see Wages under Capitalism). As society advances material living conditions change, and the material and cultural needs of the population, including the working class, increase. At the same time, the level of real consumption of material and cultural benefits lags increasingly behind their growing needs. The absolute deterioration of the condition of the proletariat under capitalism is manifested at different times in lower real wages; as a result, the worker’s needs that have to be met to ensure normal reproduction of his labour power are satisfied to a lesser degree. The condition of the proletariat is made worse by higher taxes, constantly rising prices of consumer goods, high rent, which frequently devours over one-third of the wages, and expensive medical services. The standard of living of the proletariat is increasingly affected by the growing labour intensity, which drains the worker’s strength and causes injury and occupational disease. The condition of the proletariat becomes particularly grave during economic crises of overproduction, when a large number of workers lose their jobs and, consequently, all means of subsistence and join the ranks of the unemployed (see Unemployment). In the guise of a campaign against unemployment and rising prices, the capitalist state frequently pursues a policy of wagefreezes and cuts expenditure on education, medical care and housing construction, which, in turn, further undermines the condition of the working people. The latter is also harmfully affected by militarisation of the economy, which leads to a reduction in civil production, a drastic rise in taxes, growing inflation, increasing intensity of labour and a drop in real wages. The condition of the non-proletarian strata of the working people under capitalism also grows worse. Impoverished peasants and petty producers add to the numbers of the unemployed, the results being a decrease in the wages of the employed workers and a deterioration of their working conditions. In the economically less developed Asian, African and Latin American countries, whose economies are dominated by foreign monopoly capital, the proletariat has to put up with dual oppression—from national and foreign capital. Excessive exploitation, a high level of unemployment, low wages, poor working and living conditions, extreme poverty and a high death rate are the chief indicators of how the working people live in these countries. There, the annual per capita income is only 4 to 5 per cent of that in the USA. The reactionary policy pursued by monopoly capital towards trade unions and other workers’ organisations, the encroachment on the democratic rights of the working class and legislation turned against workers impede the proletariat’s struggle for its rights and makes its condition worse. This process is accompanied by exacerbation of the class struggle in the capitalist countries, with the economic action of the working class becoming closely linked to the political campaign of the working class and all working people who are fighting to abolish the capitalist system. In the struggle for its vital interests, the working class of the capitalist countries receives considerable support from the growing forces of world socialism.