kaupanteko

Kaupanteko is a Basque term that denotes the activity of buying and selling goods and services, i.e., commerce or trade. It covers exchanges that occur in markets, shops, wholesalers, and other commercial settings, as well as the practices, norms, and institutions that organize and regulate these exchanges. The concept is used to describe the part of the economy that connects producers with consumers and underpins everyday economic life in Basque-speaking regions.

In Basque usage, kaupanteko serves as a standard label for the economic activity of commerce. It appears in academic writing, journalism, public policy, and business discourse as a broad descriptor of retail and wholesale transactions, market operations, and the distribution of goods and services. The term helps distinguish buying and selling from other economic activities such as production or manufacturing.

Historically, commerce has been a feature of Basque communities dating back to medieval times, with markets and fairs acting as focal points for exchange. In the Basque Country today, kaupanteko remains central to the economy, influencing regulations, consumer protections, and business practices, while also reflecting regional commercial culture and entrepreneurial activity.

See also Basque language, Basque Country, economy, commerce.