commodification
Meaning: The process of treating something that is not naturally a commercial product as though it were one; turning things, services, or ideas into tradeable commodities.
Commodification is primarily a critical term, used to describe — and usually to criticise — the extension of market logic into areas where it is seen as inappropriate. The commodification of education, healthcare, water, culture, or personal data are all subjects of contemporary debate. It implies a loss of intrinsic value when something is reduced to its market price. Common collocations include 'the commodification of,' 'resist commodification,' and 'increasing commodification.'
Examples
- The commodification of higher education has turned students into consumers and degrees into products. 高等教育的商品化已经把学生变成了消费者,把学位变成了产品。La mercantilización de la educación superior ha convertido a los estudiantes en consumidores y los títulos en productos.高等教育の商品化は、学生を消費者に、学位を商品に変えてしまった。고등교육의 상품화는 학생을 소비자로, 학위를 상품으로 변모시켰다.
- Environmentalists argue that the commodification of water threatens access for the world's poorest communities. 环保主义者认为,水资源的商品化威胁到世界上最贫困社区的获取权。Los ecologistas sostienen que la mercantilización del agua amenaza el acceso de las comunidades más pobres del mundo.環境保護主義者たちは、水の商品化が世界の最も貧しい地域の人々のアクセスを脅かすと主張している。환경운동가들은 물의 상품화가 세계에서 가장 가난한 지역 사회의 접근권을 위협한다고 주장한다.
- The artist spoke out against the commodification of street culture by luxury fashion brands. 这位艺术家公开反对奢侈时尚品牌对街头文化的商品化。El artista denunció la mercantilización de la cultura callejera por parte de las marcas de moda de lujo.そのアーティストは、高級ファッションブランドによるストリートカルチャーの商品化に異を唱えた。그 예술가는 명품 패션 브랜드에 의한 거리 문화의 상품화에 반대 목소리를 냈다.
Pronunciation
Usage Guide
Context: academic, media, professional
Tone: negative
Origin & History
From commodity (from Latin commoditas, fitness, convenience, from commodus, suitable) + -ification. The critical, sociological sense became prominent in the late twentieth century through Marxist and post-Marxist analysis of capitalism.
Cultural Context
Era: Modern
Generation: All ages
Social background: Universal
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