groei

Groei is the Dutch noun for growth, referring to an increase in size, number, value, or importance over time. The term is used across disciplines to describe change relative to a previous period and is often expressed as a growth rate or growth factor. In economics, growth usually denotes an expansion of economic activity, most commonly measured as GDP growth. In biology, growth describes the increase in an organism’s size or in the number of its cells. In demography, population growth refers to changes in the number of people living in a given area. In urban planning and business, growth can describe the expansion of cities, markets, or organizations, and is frequently a goal of policy or strategy.

Growth can be linear, where size increases by a constant amount per period, or nonlinear, such as exponential growth, where increases accelerate because the rate of change is proportional to current size. Logistic growth models account for limiting factors that slow growth as a system approaches capacity. Measurements of growth depend on context, using indicators such as percent change, compound annual growth rate, or absolute increases.

Although the term is common in everyday language, it also carries normative connotations, with growth often associated with development and improved conditions. In Dutch, as in many languages, the word reflects a core idea of progression and change across time.