Excessand

Excessand is a theoretical state in which resources or goods are persistently more abundant than current demand within a market, institution, or ecosystem. The term is used in economic thought experiments, urban planning, and sustainability debates to explore the effects of sustained surplus and the frictions that prevent the surplus from being efficiently converted into value.

In excessand, prices tend to stabilize at low levels, storage costs rise, and producers may endure revenue volatility as demand remains tepid relative to supply. Manifestations include agricultural gluts, energy oversupply, or consumer goods left unsold in warehouses. Causes can include rapid productivity gains, misaligned policy incentives, demographic shifts, or failed demand forecasting. Some writers emphasize that excessand sits between abundance and waste, highlighting wasteful durability of stock and the inertia of price signals.

Managing excessand involves flexible inventory management, dynamic pricing, investments in storage capacity, and policies that redirect surplus to productive uses such as recycling, exporting, or charity. The concept is often contrasted with scarcity and abundance, and it raises questions about resilience, equity, and environmental impact. While not a formally recognized term in mainstream economics, excessand serves as a lens for examining how systems adapt to surplus and avoid waste.