konsumtionsbehov

Konsumtionsbehov, often translated as consumption needs, refers to the set of goods and services that individuals or households consider necessary to meet their living standards and welfare. The concept encompasses both fundamental needs—such as food, shelter, clothing, healthcare, and education—and discretionary or aspirational consumption, including leisure, culture, and durable goods. In consumer theory and macroeconomics, konsumtionsbehov is the demand side of an economy, representing what households are willing and able to purchase given prices and income.

Measurement and analysis commonly use household expenditure data or predefined consumption baskets to approximate konsumtionsbehov. Economists study how consumption responds to income changes (the marginal propensity to consume), credit access, interest rates, expectations about the future, and wealth effects. The determinants include income, wealth, credit constraints, price levels, demographic factors, and cultural norms.

Policy relevance arises in welfare analysis and social protection design, as understanding konsumtionsbehov helps assess sufficiency of income, evaluate poverty lines, and tailor subsidies or taxes to improve living standards. Theoretical perspectives vary: neoclassical models link konsumtionsbehov to utility maximization and permanent income, while sociological approaches emphasize social norms, relative status, and cultural expectations. In development and welfare economics, basic-needs frameworks focus on ensuring a minimum level of consumption to meet subsistence and health requirements. Critiques note that defining a universal set of needs is challenging due to cultural variability, measurement difficulties, and technological change that alters what is affordable or desirable. See also basic needs, consumption function, and welfare economics.