Brhatás

Brhatás is a term used in Hungarian-language discourse to denote a broad, cascading effect produced by an action, event, or policy. The word combines hatás, meaning "effect," with a prefix-like element intended to convey magnitude or breadth. The term is not part of a single standardized framework and its precise sense can vary across disciplines.

In public policy, brhatás refers to secondary and tertiary outcomes that extend beyond the immediate objectives of a measure. It emphasizes long-range and cross-sectoral consequences, such as economic spillovers, social changes, or environmental externalities that propagate through interconnected systems.

Measurement of brhatás is not standardized. Analysts typically use scenario analysis, impact mapping, system dynamics, or qualitative assessments to illustrate the potential breadth of an intervention’s influence. Because the concept is inherently cross-domain, it often serves as a planning or evaluation heuristic rather than a precise metric.

Examples in practice include transportation investments that influence land use and housing markets, regulatory reforms that shift consumer behavior and supply chains, or major technological deployments that alter industrial ecosystems. In each case, brhatás highlights effects that would not be evident from immediate, localized outcomes alone.

The term is more common in policy and planning discussions than in formal forecasting literature, and some scholars view it as vague. Its utility lies in drawing attention to wide-ranging, interconnected consequences that warrant broad consideration in decision-making.