Diskresjonære

Diskresjonære is a Norwegian term meaning discretionary. It describes actions, decisions, or authorities that are based on personal judgment rather than being dictated by fixed rules. The form can refer to a person acting with discretion (a diskresjonær beslutningstaker) or to something that operates with discretionary authority, such as policies, measures, or investments.

The word derives from the noun diskresjon, which in turn comes from languages that emphasize discernment and choosing among alternatives. In contemporary usage, diskresjonære is often contrasted with rule-based or mandatory approaches, highlighting room for interpretation, judgment, or tailoring to specific circumstances.

In law and public administration, diskresjonær authority refers to the power of a court, ministry, or agency to decide within the limits of a framework set by law. Decisions may involve balancing competing interests, applying criteria, or prioritizing resources where explicit directions are not prescriptive for every case. This discretion is typically subject to oversight, accountability, and procedural safeguards to prevent arbitrary use.

In economics and policy, diskresjonær policy describes measures chosen after assessment rather than following a fixed rule. For example, discretionary fiscal policy involves deliberate government actions to influence the economy through spending and taxation decisions, while discretionary monetary policy involves central banks adjusting instruments like interest rates in response to changing conditions. This stands in contrast to rules-based or automatic mechanisms, which operate according to predetermined formulas.

In finance, diskresjonær porteføljeforvaltning denotes asset management where the portfolio manager has the authority to make investment choices and trades on behalf of the client without seeking approval for each transaction, within the agreed risk and mandate. The term thus captures a broad spectrum of decision-making freedom across contexts.