Langetermijnkracht

Langetermijnkracht is a concept used to describe the ability of a system—such as a company, economy, institution, or ecosystem—to maintain performance, influence, or viability over an extended period, typically spanning several years to decades. The term combines langetermijn (long-term) and kracht (power, strength) and is used in Dutch discussions of strategy, sustainability, and resilience.

In practice, langetermijnkracht encompasses elements such as durable competitive advantage, accumulated know-how, adaptive capacity, institutional legitimacy, and robust infrastructure. It emphasizes persistence and resilience under changing conditions rather than short-term gains. The concept highlights how a system can absorb shocks, recover from setbacks, and continue to develop over time.

Applications include corporate strategy (building long-term value through innovation, governance, and human capital), public policy and planning (investments in critical infrastructure and climate resilience), and regional development (sustainable growth trajectories). It is often used to assess whether actions taken today will yield lasting benefits.

Indicators and assessment methods focus on long-run performance and resilience. Examples include durable revenue streams and profitability, rate of knowledge creation, stock of capabilities or patents, strength of social and organizational networks, ecological and infrastructural resilience, and governance quality. Assessments commonly employ scenario analysis, horizon thinking, and qualitative ex-post reviews, with time frames of 10, 20 years or longer.

Measurement challenges include high uncertainty, discounting of future benefits, shifting preferences, and the risk that emphasis on the long term obscures present constraints or inequities. Critics argue that the term can be vague or context-dependent and that it may trade off too much in the near term or favor established interests.