Naudos

Naudos is a Lithuanian word that generally refers to benefits, advantages, or useful outcomes arising from actions, policies, products, or interventions. In English, the term is commonly translated as "benefits" or "uses." The plural naudos is often encountered when listing multiple positive effects or applications.

In economics and public policy, naudos denotes the positive effects that justify costs. Benefits can be direct, such as increased income or time savings, or indirect, such as improved health or environmental quality. They can be tangible—measurable in money or quantities—or intangible, such as convenience, satisfaction, or social well-being. Distinctions are often made between private benefits (to individuals or firms) and social or public benefits (to society as a whole).

Assessment of naudos commonly occurs in cost-benefit analysis, impact evaluations, or risk assessments. Analysts monetize many benefits to facilitate comparison with costs, though some impacts are difficult to express in monetary terms and are described qualitatively. The concept also underpins strategic decision-making in business and governance, where alternatives are judged by their expected benefits relative to their costs or risks.

See also: nauda (singular), utility, advantage, use. The term is used across disciplines such as economics, policy, health, and environment to discuss what is gained from particular choices or interventions.