Gebrauchswert

Gebrauchswert, or use-value, is a term in economics and philosophy that denotes the usefulness of a good or service for satisfying human needs. It is a qualitative attribute tied to the object’s ability to be used for a particular purpose and depends on the user and the situation. Use-value is not a monetary measure and is not determined by market prices, though it may be realized or realized differently across contexts.

In classical political economy and especially in Karl Marx’s critique, use-value is contrasted with exchange-value (Tauschwert). A commodity possesses use-value if it can fulfill a want or need; its use-value is realized through use or consumption. Exchange-value, in contrast, reflects the commodity’s value in market transactions and is often linked to socially necessary labor time. Marx’s analysis shows that capitalists may emphasize exchange-value to maximize profit, sometimes at the expense of use-value for individual consumers.

In modern economics, the concept is related to utility, though contemporary consumer theory emphasizes subjective utility and marginal decisions rather than inherent usefulness alone. German-language usage may distinguish Gebrauchswert from Nutzwert or from price-based assessments, noting that use-value concerns practical usefulness rather than monetary value.

Examples illustrate the distinction: bread has use-value in satisfying hunger; water has use-value when one is thirsty; a work of art may have use-value as decoration or cultural significance independent of its price in a market.

Overall, Gebrauchswert serves as a foundational concept for understanding how goods satisfy needs beyond their market prices, particularly in analyses of production, consumption, and value.