katevälitystä

Katevälitys is a Finnish term used in business to describe intermediary activities focused on connecting buyers and sellers while securing a portion of the gross margin, or kate, from the transaction. The word combines kate (gross margin) and välitys (brokerage or mediation). In practice, katevälitys refers to arrangements where an intermediary facilitates a deal, negotiates terms, and thereby earns a margin for themselves through a brokerage fee, a markup, or a share of the price difference.

Applications of katevälitys vary by sector. In wholesale and distribution, brokers may source products from producers and resell them to retailers with a negotiated markup. In procurement, middlemen can purchase goods and resell them to clients with a defined margin. In services, agents or consultants may introduce clients to suppliers and collect a referral or brokerage fee. The common thread is that value is claimed or created through the mediation and price setting involved in the transaction.

Economic and policy considerations surrounding katevälitys include price transparency and market efficiency. Supporters argue that intermediaries reduce transaction costs, improve market matching, and facilitate access to goods and services. Critics contend that margins taken by intermediaries can obscure value creation, potentially contributing to higher prices for end users if the intermediary’s role is not clearly justified. Regulatory approaches often emphasize disclosure, competition rules, and procurement integrity, aiming to prevent anti-competitive practices and excessive or opaque margins.

See also: gross margin, brokerage, intermediation, pricing transparency, supply chain.