In an economic and sociological context, Surplus primarily refers to an excess of production or resources beyond what is immediately needed or consumed. This category often relates to the concept of "surplus value" in Marxist theory, which describes the value of a worker's labor that is "left over" after the cost of their wages has been repaid to the employer, constituting the capitalist's profit and representing a form of exploitation. Beyond this specific Marxist usage, "surplus" can also describe any excess production (e.g., agricultural surplus allowing for specialisation and urbanisation) or resources accumulated by a society beyond its immediate subsistence needs. The generation and distribution of surplus are central to understanding economic systems, social stratification, and the development of more complex societies, as it allows for investment, the division of labor, and the emergence of non-productive classes.