överskottet

Överskottet is the definite form of the Swedish term överskott, which denotes a quantity that exceeds what is required, expected, or demanded. It can refer to material stock, financial resources, or productive output, and may arise when production, revenues, or generation surpass consumption, spending, or demand.

In economics the concept appears in several forms. A budgetöverskott occurs when revenues exceed expenditures during a period. A handelsöverskott refers to a situation where exports outweigh imports in a given time frame. An energiöverskott describes a surplus of energy or biomass that is produced beyond immediate use, which can be stored or sold.

Surpluses can be managed in various ways. They may be stored in inventories, invested, exported, or redistributed to other sectors or regions. A surplus can result from efficient production, favorable market conditions, or seasonal factors, but it can also reflect structural imbalances or temporary weakness in demand. In public policy, persistent surpluses or deficits influence debt levels, prices, and macroeconomic stability, and may lead to adjustments in fiscal or monetary strategies.

The word is formed from över- 'over' and skott 'yield' or output. Överskottet is used when referring to a specific surplus within a particular context.