samfundsmæssige

Samfundsmæssige is a Danish adjective meaning relating to society or the social sphere. It is formed from samfund (society) and the suffix -mæssig, and is used to describe phenomena, processes and policies with a focus on the social dimension rather than purely economic or technical aspects.

In usage, the term typically appears before nouns such as forhold (conditions), konsekvenser (consequences) and udfordringer (challenges). It signals a broader, structural perspective on issues and is common in sociology, political science, public policy, urban planning, health, education and welfare debates. Examples include samfundsmæssige forhold (social conditions such as housing and education), samfundsmæssige konsekvenser (social outcomes like inequality or cohesion) and samfundsmæssige udfordringer (societal challenges such as aging or integration).

The term is widely used in academic research, policy documents and public discourse to frame topics as rooted in social structures and institutions rather than solely in economic or technical factors. It is often contrasted with økonomiske (economic) or teknologiske (technological) dimensions to emphasize the social aspect of a given issue. Samfundsmæssige analyses and discussions thus aim to illuminate how societal arrangements shape, and are shaped by, behavior, institutions and policy choices.