Husholdningen

Husholdningen refers to the economic unit consisting of individuals who live together in a dwelling and make joint decisions about consumption and resources. In the national accounts framework, husholdningen is treated as a single sector distinct from businesses and government and includes households of various compositions, such as single-person households, couples, and multi-person families.

A household supplies labor and capital to the economy and receives income in the form of wages, salaries, profits, and transfers. After taxes and social contributions, households have disposable income, which is allocated to consumption of goods and services, savings, or repayment of debt. Housing costs and purchases of durable goods form important components of household expenditure.

Households differ in size, structure, and life-cycle stage, influencing consumption patterns and saving behavior. Demographic trends, such as aging populations, fertility, and migration, shape the size and composition of husholdningen and its demand for housing, education, and healthcare.

In policymaking, husholdningen is central to measures of living standards, poverty, and income distribution. Data from household budget surveys and national accounts inform taxation, welfare programs, and macroeconomic analysis. The household sector's saving rate and debt levels affect aggregate demand and financial stability.

Terminology varies by language and context, but husholdningen generally denotes the household as a consumer unit in economics. In Norway, statistical agencies publish related data under the household sector within Nasjonalregnskapet and related surveys.