hyperproduktion

Hyperproduktion is a term used in economic discourse to describe a situation in which the rate of production exceeds the economy’s ability to absorb goods and services at prevailing prices. As a result, inventories accumulate, prices fall, and profitability declines, which can trigger production cuts and unemployment. The concept is closely related to overproduction and to crisis theories in Marxist economics, where the accumulation of capital and the expansion of productive capacity outpace effective demand.

Causes include rapid investment and capacity expansion driven by favorable financing, technology, or policy incentives; export-led growth that raises supply faster than domestic consumption; and speculative or misaligned incentives that encourage additional capacity even when demand growth is uncertain. External shocks or credit tightening can then turn a potential surplus into a disorderly downturn.

Consequences typically involve rising inventories, price deflation or volatility, reductions in production, layoffs, and financial strain on firms and suppliers. Indicators include rising inventory-to-sales ratios, high capacity utilization followed by abrupt declines, and depressed profit margins.

Hyperproduktion also appears in different contexts. In industrial economics, it describes manufacturing output exceeding demand. In digital media markets, it is sometimes used to describe excessive content production enabled by low marginal costs and platform-driven monetization, which can saturate audiences.

See also: Overproduction, Crisis theory, Underconsumption, Inventory, Business cycle.