superprofits
Abnormally high returns
Superprofits are profits significantly exceeding normal or expected returns in a given industry or market.
The term appears in Marxist economics to describe profits above the average rate, and in contemporary discourse about windfall gains by oil companies, tech giants, or other firms benefiting from unusual market conditions: Critics called for a tax on superprofits during the energy crisis.
Often used pejoratively to suggest exploitation or market dysfunction.
Business income total
Unanticipated lucky gain
- rent-seekingGaining through system manipulation
- profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
- markupAdded percentage for profit
- overchargingDemanding excessive payment
Selfish use of others
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
- oligarchyRule by few
plutocracy · accumulation · concentration · commodification · alienation · oppression · offshore · loopholes
One seller, no substitutes
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- price-fixingCoordinated artificial cost-setting
- anticompetitiveHarming market fairness
duopoly · collusion · merger · acquisition · antitrust
Slippery viscous fluid
- gasFormless, expanding substance
- energyPower to do work
- pharmaceuticalsManufactured therapeutic substances
- techDigital sector, abbreviated
banking · finance · mining · commodities · arms · defense · tobacco · real-estate
Sharing out again differently
- revenueBusiness income total
- nationalizationGovernment acquisition of industry
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
- clawbackContractual fund recovery
revenue
Business income total
windfall
Unanticipated lucky gain
- rent-seekingGaining through system manipulation
- profiteeringExploiting scarcity for gain
- markupAdded percentage for profit
overcharging · margin · yield · premium · bonanza · jackpot · goldmine
exploitation
Selfish use of others
- inequalityUnequal distribution of resources
- disparityMeasurable difference between things
- neocolonialismIndirect foreign domination
oligarchy · plutocracy · accumulation · concentration · commodification · alienation · oppression · offshore · loopholes
monopoly
One seller, no substitutes
- oligopolyFew firms dominate market
- cartelPrice-fixing coalition
- price-fixingCoordinated artificial cost-setting
anticompetitive · duopoly · collusion · merger · acquisition · antitrust
oil
Slippery viscous fluid
- gasFormless, expanding substance
- energyPower to do work
- pharmaceuticalsManufactured therapeutic substances
tech · banking · finance · mining · commodities · arms · defense · tobacco · real-estate · telecoms
redistribution
Sharing out again differently
- revenueBusiness income total
- nationalizationGovernment acquisition of industry
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
superprofitslosses
Things subtracted from standing
deficit · net loss · operating losses · break-even · red ink