tarbevajaduse

Tarbevajadus is an Estonian term used in economics to describe the level of demand for goods and services by individuals, households, and organizations in order to satisfy wants. It encompasses the willingness and ability to purchase at given prices and is influenced by factors such as income, prices, tastes, expectations, and the availability of substitutes. The concept is related to but distinct from basic needs and from purely qualitative notions of desire.

In economic usage, tarbevajadus captures consumer demand under current conditions, including both expressed willingness to buy and actual purchases. It is shaped by several core drivers: income (sissetulek), prices (hinnad), preferences (eelistused), expectations (ootused), and demographic changes. Price changes can alter tarbevajadus through substitution effects and income effects, influencing how much of a good is demanded.

Measurement of tarbevajadus is indirect. Economists use demand curves, consumer expenditure surveys, and elasticity metrics to estimate how demand responds to price and income changes. While not directly observable for every good, aggregated demand provides essential insight for firms, policymakers, and researchers.

Applications of understanding tarbevajadus include market analysis, pricing strategy, production planning, and welfare assessment. It helps explain how households allocate limited resources among competing goods and how policy interventions, such as taxes or subsidies, may affect consumption patterns.

See also: tarbimine (consumption), nõudlus (demand), hinnad (prices), tarbimisotsused (consumption decisions).