mangësi

Mangësi is an Albanian noun that denotes scarcity, lack, or poverty. It describes a condition in which essential resources—such as food, housing, income, or access to services—are unavailable or insufficient, affecting individuals, families, or communities. It is used in sociological, economic, and historical contexts to refer to material deprivation or social vulnerability.

The term belongs to the Albanian lexicon and is commonly used in discussions of poverty and inequality within Albania and among Albanian-speaking populations. It is used to characterize both chronic deprivation and shorter periods of shortage that require policy responses or humanitarian attention. In scholarly and media texts, mangësi is often contrasted with concepts like prosperity or economic growth to analyze distributional effects, social safety nets, and welfare programs.

In discourse, mangësi can reflect both material conditions—such as income, housing, and nutrition—and non-material dimensions like lack of access to education, healthcare, or secure employment. It is a term that invites analysis of structural factors, including labor markets, governance, and social policy, rather than attributing deficiency solely to individuals.

See also: Poverty, deprivation, social welfare, Albanian language, economic development.