Bruttoinvestering

Bruttoinvestering, or gross investment, is the total expenditure on new capital goods and on changes in inventories during a specific period. It is a measure of capital formation and reflects the demand for durable inputs that expand a economy’s productive capacity. In national accounts, gross investment is usually defined as gross fixed capital formation plus changes in inventories and is a major component of GDP under the expenditure approach.

Gross investment encompasses spending on physical assets such as buildings, machinery, and equipment, as well as additions to inventories. It may include purchases of software and other intangible fixed assets where applicable. It often fluctuates with business cycles and can be influenced by factors such as interest rates, expectations about future demand, and policy measures aimed at stimulating investment.

Net investment is the amount of gross investment remaining after subtracting depreciation (consumption of fixed capital). If depreciation exceeds gross investment, net investment is negative, indicating a decline in the productive capacity of the economy. Conversely, positive net investment implies that the capital stock is growing in real terms. Bruttoinvestering thus provides a gauge of short- to medium-term investment activity and long-run growth potential.