livings

Livings is the plural form of the noun living when used to describe the means by which people earn subsistence or income. In modern academic and policy writing, the term most commonly appears as livelihoods, which is the standard plural. When used as livings, it typically refers to multiple kinds of subsistence strategies within a community or across groups.

Etymology and usage notes: The noun living originates from historical senses of subsistence and daily sustenance, and the phrase to earn a living has long been part of the lexicon. The form livings is comparatively rare in formal discourse, with livelihoods serving as the conventional plural for describing income-generating activities and the resources that support them.

In economics and development studies, livings (often phrased as livelihoods) describe the combination of activities, assets, and capabilities that households rely on to secure income and meet basic needs. This includes wage labor, self-employment, farming, fishing, crafts, and services, as well as the social networks and institutions that enable or constrain those activities. A common analytical approach is the sustainable livelihoods framework, which links assets, strategies, outcomes, and external pressures.

Determinants and dynamics: Livings are shaped by location, access to land and capital, education, market opportunities, technology, and governance. They are vulnerable to shocks such as climate events, price fluctuations, and policy changes, making diversification and resilience important themes in livelihood analysis.

See also: livelihood, sustainable livelihoods framework, informal economy, poverty reduction. Note that while livings may be understood in context, livelihoods is the more widely used term in contemporary discourse.