Hyödyttävyys

Hyödyttävyys, in economics and decision theory, refers to the satisfaction or utility a consumer derives from the consumption of a good or service. It is a subjective measure that varies from person to person and can change based on circumstances, preferences, and the quantity consumed. Economists use the concept of hyödyttävyys to explain consumer choices and the demand for goods. The principle of diminishing marginal hyödyttävyys suggests that as an individual consumes more of a particular good, the additional satisfaction gained from each extra unit decreases. For example, the first slice of pizza might be highly satisfying, but subsequent slices will likely provide less additional pleasure.

Hyödyttävyys is not directly observable or measurable in a cardinal sense (i.e., assigning a numerical value like "10 units of hyödyttävyys"). Instead, economists often work with ordinal hyödyttävyys, which focuses on ranking preferences. Consumers are assumed to make choices that maximize their overall hyödyttävyys given their budget constraints. Understanding hyödyttävyys helps in analyzing market behavior, pricing strategies, and the allocation of scarce resources. It is a fundamental building block for many economic models.