Nedostatek

Nedostatek is a Czech noun meaning lack, shortage, or deficit of something. It denotes a situation where the available amount of a resource, good, or service is not sufficient to meet demand or needs. The word derives from dostatek (sufficiency, abundance) with the negative prefix ne-, indicating the absence of adequacy.

In economics, public administration, and social sciences, nedostatek describes a gap between what is desired and what is available. It is commonly specified by the genitive of the lacking item, for example nedostatek potravin (shortage of food), nedostatek pitné vody (shortage of drinking water), nedostatek energií (shortage of energy), or nedostatek léků (medicine shortages). Causes can include limited supply, rising demand, logistical problems, production disruptions, or policy constraints. The term is often used in discussions of policy responses, resource management, and crisis planning.

Examples of current or historical contexts include housing nedostatek (housing shortage), nedostatek pracovních síl (labor shortages), or nedostatek financí for public programs. In medicine, nedostatek vitamínů or nedostatek krevních zásob refers to deficiencies within the body or in supply chains. The concept can be seasonal or long-term and may require measures such as increased production, redistribution, rationing, or investment in infrastructure.

Related terms include dostatek (sufficiency) and přebytek (surplus). Nedostatek is generally neutral in tone and widely used in statistical, academic, and everyday language to describe resource gaps.