konsumtion

Konsumtion, or consumption, is the use of goods and services by households to satisfy needs and desires. In economics it is a central concept and a major component of aggregate demand, measured in national accounts as consumption expenditure by households and nonprofit institutions serving households (NPISH). It covers durable goods, nondurable goods, and services, and is typically expressed as total expenditure or as a share of gross domestic product.

In macroeconomic modelling, consumption is often denoted C in the expenditure approach: GDP = C + I + G + NX. Demand for consumption is influenced by income, wealth, prices, interest rates, expectations about the future, and access to credit. Behavioral theories include the life-cycle hypothesis (people smooth consumption over their expected lifetime) and the permanent income hypothesis (consumption tracks long-run expected income). The marginal propensity to consume describes how much additional consumption results from a rise in income.

Consumption is commonly categorized as durable goods, nondurable goods, and services. It can be measured for individuals, households, or nonprofit institutions, and is used to analyze consumer demand, living standards, and the distribution of resources.

Environmental and social considerations have raised attention to sustainable consumption, reducing waste, and promoting efficiency. Policies to influence consumption include taxes, subsidies, information campaigns, and standards, often within broader strategies such as a circular economy and decoupling growth from environmental impact.

Data and indicators: national accounts provide consumption figures; household expenditure surveys, price indices, and savings rates help interpret patterns. Cross-country comparisons show substantial variation in consumption shares of GDP and in the drivers of demand.