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deadweight loss
This term is a specialized technical expression used primarily in economics and public policy. It describes a specific type of inefficiency where the loss of consumer and producer surplus exceeds the revenue gained by the government through a tax, or the cost of a subsidy. It carries a negative connotation of waste and inefficiency.
Because it refers to a conceptual economic measurement, it is treated as an uncountable noun. You would not refer to "three deadweight losses" in a standard economic analysis; instead, you would discuss "the amount of deadweight loss" or "a significant deadweight loss" to describe the magnitude of the inefficiency.
Meanings
The loss of economic efficiency that occurs when the equilibrium for a good or service is not achieved or is artificially distorted, typically by taxes, subsidies, or price controls.
The imposition of a high tax on luxury goods often results in a significant deadweight loss as consumers reduce their purchases.