Obtainability

Obtainability is the degree to which a person or group can acquire a desired object, outcome, or service given prevailing constraints. It is distinct from availability, which denotes the presence of an item in a market or environment; obtainability emphasizes the feasibility of actually obtaining it, considering costs, access, knowledge, and legitimacy. In decision theory and consumer research, obtainability affects choices because more obtainable options are weighed more heavily even if alternatives are equally available.

Key dimensions include monetary cost, time and convenience, geographic or logistical access, eligibility or credential requirements, information accessibility, and regulatory or social barriers. These dimensions interact: a low price but high travel distance may still yield low obtainability.

Measurement approaches use proxies such as total cost of ownership, number of steps required to complete a transaction, distance to access points, required credentials, and wait times or quotas. In policy and design contexts, improving obtainability may involve reducing friction, expanding channels, subsidizing costs, increasing information clarity, or removing unnecessary restrictions.

Obstacles to obtainability include price, lack of infrastructure, legal or regulatory barriers, supply chain constraints, digital divide, and knowledge gaps. Facilitators include subsidies, alternative distribution channels, open licensing or open data, streamlined processes, and education or assistance programs.

Examples include healthcare services made more obtainable through telemedicine, or consumer goods made more obtainable by establishing multiple retail outlets and cheaper delivery. The concept supports analysis of disparities in access and helps frame interventions that increase practical access rather than mere presence.