1) The M-C-M cycle, which stands for Money – Commodity – More Money, explains how capitalists maintain and increase their wealth. They start with money (M), use it to buy commodities (C) like labor and raw materials, and then produce goods or services that are sold for more money (M’). This process generates surplus value, or profit, which they reinvest into the cycle. By continually turning money into commodities and back into more money, capitalists are able to accumulate and grow their wealth over time.