competitionis

Competitionis is a term used in some contemporary debates to describe a philosophy that privileges competition as a central organizing principle in economics, policy, and social life. It is not a widely used or formally defined doctrine, but rather a label applied by writers to name a particular worldview.

Etymology and scope: The word appears to fuse "competition" with the -ism suffix. It is not widely attested in dictionaries, and its use is mostly confined to scholars and policy writers who want to denote a perspective rather than a standardized creed.

Proponents argue that competitive incentives improve efficiency, spur innovation, and discipline actors through benchmarking, contestable markets, and performance-based funding. They see competition as a driver of resource allocation that can reduce prices, expand choice, and push institutions to raise standards.

Applications include market design, privatization, outsourcing, and governance reforms that emphasize choice and rivalry as organizing mechanisms. In these contexts, competitionis is invoked to justify reforms that rely on competitive pressures to improve outcomes in both private and public sectors.

Critics say excessive focus on competition can undermine equity, public goods, and long-term planning; it may encourage short-termism, externalities, and strategic behavior that harm broader welfare. They caution against measurement distortions and policy capture by vested interests seeking to dominate markets or sectors.

Relation to other ideas: Competitionis intersects with neoliberalism and market fundamentalism but is distinguished by naming a worldview rather than prescribing specific policies. Debates around competitionis often center on balancing competitive forces with social protection and collective goods.

Status: As a term, competitionis remains uncommon and debated, with no broad consensus on its definition or normative adequacy.