die
Wirtschaftlichkeit
💡 What does "die Wirtschaftlichkeit" mean?
Die Wirtschaftlichkeit describes the relationship between the achieved yield (benefit, success) and the effort (costs, resources) used for it. It's about achieving a goal with the lowest possible use of resources or achieving the greatest possible benefit with given resources.
In essence, it means:
- Efficiency in an economic sense
- Cost-effectiveness
- Profitability of a measure or a company
One assesses die Wirtschaftlichkeit to decide whether an investment, a project, or a certain approach is worthwhile. 💰➡️📈
⚠️ Important: Wirtschaftlichkeit is not the same as Sparsamkeit (frugality). Sparsamkeit means spending as little as possible. Wirtschaftlichkeit means getting the best out of the resources used, which can sometimes mean higher initial investments that pay off later.
Article rules for der, die, and das
-keit → always feminine.
📚 Grammar in Detail: die Wirtschaftlichkeit
Die Wirtschaftlichkeit is a feminine noun. Like most nouns ending in -keit, it takes the feminine article 'die'.
It is mostly used in the singular because it describes an abstract concept. A plural form ("Wirtschaftlichkeiten") is grammatically possible but very rare and would refer to specific instances or calculations of cost-effectiveness.
Declension (Singular)
| Case | Article | Noun | (English Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nominative | die | Wirtschaftlichkeit | (the economic efficiency) |
| Genitive | der | Wirtschaftlichkeit | (of the economic efficiency) |
| Dative | der | Wirtschaftlichkeit | (to/for the economic efficiency) |
| Accusative | die | Wirtschaftlichkeit | (the economic efficiency) |
Example Sentences
- Die Wirtschaftlichkeit dieses Projekts muss noch geprüft werden.
(The cost-effectiveness of this project still needs to be checked.) - Bei der Entscheidung wurde großer Wert auf die Wirtschaftlichkeit gelegt.
(Great importance was attached to economic efficiency in the decision.) - Wir müssen die Wirtschaftlichkeit unserer Produktionsprozesse verbessern.
(We need to improve the economic efficiency of our production processes.) - Dank der neuen Maschine konnte die Wirtschaftlichkeit deutlich gesteigert werden.
(Thanks to the new machine, cost-effectiveness could be significantly increased.)
🔧 How is "Wirtschaftlichkeit" used?
The term Wirtschaftlichkeit is primarily important in business, technical, and administrative contexts.
- Business Management: Evaluation of investments, processes, departments, or the entire company. (e.g., Wirtschaftlichkeitsanalyse - profitability analysis, Wirtschaftlichkeitsberechnung - cost-effectiveness calculation)
- Project Management: Decision support for selecting and implementing projects.
- Public Administration: Assessment of the efficiency of government measures and expenditures.
- Technology & Engineering: Comparison of different technical solutions regarding costs and benefits.
- Everyday Life: Less common, but possible, e.g., when comparing purchases (Is the car more economical than public transport?).
Comparison with similar terms:
- Effizienz (Efficiency): Often refers to the ratio of input to output (e.g., energy efficiency). Wirtschaftlichkeit explicitly includes monetary valuation (cost/benefit). An action can be efficient but not economical (if the output is high but worthless).
- Rentabilität (Profitability): Focuses more strongly on profit in relation to the capital employed. Wirtschaftlichkeit is a broader term that can also include non-monetary benefits.
- Produktivität (Productivity): Measures the quantity of output per input unit (e.g., pieces per hour). Wirtschaftlichkeit also evaluates this output financially.
🧠 Mnemonics for Wirtschaftlichkeit
Remembering the Article: Nouns ending in "-keit" are almost always feminine (die). Think of: Die Möglichkeit (possibility), die Sauberkeit (cleanliness)... and also die Wirtschaftlichkeit. The ending -keit is your feminine clue!
Remembering the Meaning: Imagine a business owner (related to Wirtschaft) being very thoughtful (-lich resembles 'thoughtful') about how to achieve maximum profit with minimum effort (-keit denotes the state/quality of being). They are checking the Wirtschaftlichkeit (economic viability/efficiency) of their business.
Alternatively: Think 'Worth-shaft-lick-kite'. Is it worth it? Does the business 'shaft' get a 'lick' of profit like a 'kite' soaring high? This absurdity might help link Wirtschaftlichkeit to profitability and worth.
🔄 Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms (Similar Meaning):
- Rentabilität: (profitability, emphasis on profit vs. capital)
- Effizienz: (efficiency, emphasis on input/output ratio, not necessarily monetary)
- Kosteneffizienz: (cost-effectiveness, emphasis on achieving a goal with minimal cost)
- Profitabilität: (profitability, emphasis on the ability to make a profit)
- Ertragskraft: (earning power)
Antonyms (Opposite Meaning):
- Unwirtschaftlichkeit: (inefficiency, lack of profitability)
- Ineffizienz: (inefficiency, waste of resources)
- Verlustträchtigkeit: (loss-making nature)
- Verschwendung: (waste, squandering)
Similar but Different Terms:
- Sparsamkeit: (frugality, focus on minimizing spending, not necessarily optimal outcome)
- Wirtschaft: (economy, the overall system of economic activities)
😂 A Little Joke
Fragt der Chef den Controller: "Ist unser neues Marketingkonzept wirtschaftlich?"
(The boss asks the controller: "Is our new marketing concept economical?")
Antwortet der Controller: "Absolut! Wir haben so viel Geld dafür ausgegeben, dass es sich einfach lohnen muss!" 😉
(The controller replies: "Absolutely! We spent so much money on it that it simply must be worthwhile!")
📜 A Poem about Wirtschaftlichkeit
Der Aufwand klein, der Nutzen groß,
(The effort small, the benefit great,)
So wünscht man's sich, ganz fraglos.
(That's how one wishes it, without doubt.)
Nicht nur sparen, nein, mit Bedacht,
(Not just saving, no, with consideration,)
Hat die Vernunft den Plan gemacht.
(Reason has made the plan.)
Die Rechnung klar, das Ziel im Blick,
(The calculation clear, the goal in sight,)
Das ist der Wirtschaftlichkeit Glück.
(That is the fortune of economic efficiency.)
Ob Projekt, ob Kauf, ob Tat,
(Whether project, purchase, or deed,)
Sie ist ein kluger Lebensrat.
(It is wise advice for life.)
🧩 A Little Riddle
Ich messe Kosten gegen Lohn,
(I measure costs against reward,)
Bin Basis für 'ne Investition.
(Am the basis for an investment.)
Ich zeige, ob sich etwas rentiert,
(I show if something pays off,)
Damit kein Geld wird schlecht platziert.
(So that no money is badly placed.)
Wer bin ich? / Who am I?
Lösung / Solution: Die Wirtschaftlichkeit
➕ Other Information
Word Composition
The word "Wirtschaftlichkeit" is a noun composed of:
- Wirtschaft: Refers to economy, housekeeping, management.
- -lich: A suffix that forms adjectives (here: wirtschaftlich = economical, efficient).
- -keit: A suffix that forms nouns from adjectives, expressing a state or quality.
So: The state or quality of being wirtschaftlich (economical/efficient).
Related Concepts
- Wirtschaftlichkeitsprinzip (Ökonomisches Prinzip) / Economic Principle: Maxim of action to either achieve the maximum result with given means (maximum principle) or achieve a given goal with minimum use of means (minimum principle).
- Wirtschaftlichkeitsprüfung / Profitability Assessment: A procedure for the systematic evaluation of economic efficiency.
📝 Summary: is it der, die or das Wirtschaftlichkeit?
The correct article for Wirtschaftlichkeit is die. It's a feminine noun (die Wirtschaftlichkeit, der Wirtschaftlichkeit, ...).