talouden

Talouden is the genitive singular form of the Finnish noun talous, which means economy, finances, or household economy. In Finnish, the genitive is used to express possession or association, so talouden typically appears as part of a noun phrase describing an economic attribute or topic rather than as an independent term.

In practice, talouden appears to modify another noun within a phrase. Common examples include talouden kasvu (the growth of the economy), talouden tilanne (the state of the economy), talouden hallinta (the management of the economy), and talouden kehitys (the development of the economy). While talouden is a two-word construct, many related concepts are also written as single-word compounds in Finnish, such as talouskasvu (economic growth) and talouspolitiikka (economic policy). Both forms are found in Finnish texts, with the choice often depending on style, register, or emphasis.

Usage notes: talouden is not typically used alone as a stand-alone noun; its function is to mark possession or association in phrases about economic topics. It commonly appears in journalism, policy discussions, and academic writing as part of larger expressions about economic conditions, policy, or performance.

Etymology: talous historically referred to household management, and over time its meaning broadened to include the management and study of a country’s resources and finances. The genitive talouden thus reflects its role within phrases describing economic phenomena.

See also: talous, talouskasvu, talouspolitiikka, taloushallinto, taloudellinen.