Költségátvitel

Költségátvitel, in economic terms, refers to the process by which a cost incurred by one party is passed on to another party. This can occur in various economic contexts, most commonly in business transactions. When a company faces increased production costs, such as higher raw material prices or labor wages, it may choose to pass these costs onto its customers through higher prices for its goods or services. This is a common strategy to maintain profit margins.

The ability to effectively transfer costs often depends on market conditions, including the elasticity of demand for the product or service. If demand is inelastic, meaning consumers are less sensitive to price changes, a business has a greater capacity to pass on increased costs without significantly impacting sales volume. Conversely, in a highly competitive market with elastic demand, businesses may absorb some of the cost increases to remain competitive.

Költségátvitel can also occur between different stages of a supply chain. For example, a manufacturer facing higher input costs might increase prices for its wholesalers, who in turn may pass on the increased cost to retailers, ultimately affecting the final consumer price. This cascading effect is a fundamental aspect of how economic shocks can propagate through an economy. The concept is also relevant in public finance, where governments might transfer costs of public services to specific user groups through fees or taxes.