Page "Consumption (economics)" Paragraph 0

Consumption is a common concept in economics and many other social sciences, and gives rise to derived concepts such as consumer debt.

Generally, consumption is defined in part by comparison to production.

But the precise definition can vary because different schools of economists define production quite differently.

According to mainstream economists, only the final purchase of goods and services by individuals constitutes consumption, while other types of expenditure — in particular, fixed investment, intermediate consumption, and government spending — are placed in separate categories.

See consumer choice.

Other economists define consumption much more broadly, as the aggregate of all economic activity that does not entail the design, production and marketing of goods and services ( e. g. the selection, adoption, use, disposal and recycling of goods and services ).