satsødem

Satsødem is a term used in Norwegian to describe a phenomenon related to the measurement of economic equality or inequality. It translates roughly to "satiety edema" or "saturation edema," but in an economic context, it refers to a point where the benefits of economic growth or redistribution are perceived to diminish or become less impactful for a population that has already reached a certain level of well-being.

The concept suggests that beyond a certain threshold of wealth or income, further increases may not translate into proportional improvements in happiness, satisfaction, or overall quality of life. This could be due to various factors, including diminishing marginal utility of money, the emergence of new social pressures or aspirations, or the realization that material wealth alone does not solve all problems.

Satsødem implies that policies aimed solely at increasing GDP or income might become less effective once a certain societal standard of living is achieved. Instead, resources and policy efforts might need to be directed towards non-material aspects of well-being, such as social cohesion, environmental quality, access to culture, or mental health, to continue improving societal welfare. The term is often used in discussions about the limitations of purely economic indicators for measuring societal progress and the importance of a more holistic approach to well-being.