Ikkeøkonomisk

Ikkeøkonomisk is a Norwegian term meaning not economic, used to describe aspects, effects, or considerations that are not primarily driven by financial costs or revenues. The term is often used in economics, public policy, management, and ethics to distinguish non-financial values from economic ones.

In cost-benefit analysis, ikkeøkonomiske costs and benefits refer to intangibles such as environmental impact, cultural heritage, human well-being, social cohesion, and health outcomes that are difficult to quantify monetarily. In policy discourse, ikkeøkonomiske hensyn may include equity, privacy, safety, or ecological sustainability.

In business, not only financial performance matters; corporate social responsibility and stakeholder theory emphasize ikkeøkonomiske elements like brand reputation, employee morale, community relations, and long-term resilience.

Linguistic note: hyphenation varies; "ikke-økonomisk" and "ikkeøkonomisk" are both used in Norwegian, with hyphenation often preferred in compounds. The term is related to or contrasted with "økonomisk" and "finansiell" and with phrases like "ikke-økonomiske kostnader."

Challenges include vagueness and measurement difficulties; some critics argue not all non-economic values can be operationalized, while proponents argue that accounting only for monetary costs may miss critical impacts, making ikkeøkonomiske considerations essential for holistic decision-making.