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ECONOMICS OF MAHAVIRA
person. In fact, by this criterion, the boundary line for limiting the wants can be drawn. While fulfilling the wants which are essential or are means of convenience, it is necessary to control needs and wants which are mere luxuries. This approach keeps the doors open for improved standard of living and for economic development while putting an embargo on the standard of living based on luxuries.
Determination of Essentiality
According to Economics, the determination of necessities, comforts and luxuries is achieved by the categorisation of needs based on the criterion whether by its consumption, happiness is derived and by its non-consumption, unhappiness is created: If by consuming a product, a person gets only a little happiness and, by not consuming it, experiences a considerable unhappiness or suffering, then the subject product is considered a necessity or an essential. If by consuming a product a person gets a considerable amount of happiness, but by not consuming it he gets only a little unhappiness, then it falls into the category of a comfort. If by consuming a product a person experiences a great deal of happiness, and by not consuming it he does not experience any unhappiness (except when a person is addicted to its consumption), it falls into the category of luxuries. If by consuming a product one gets momentary happiness and by not consuming it one experiences considerable suffering, it is called dhanotsargik (addictive product.)
The categorisation of needs on the basis of happiness and unhappiness can be depicted in the form as shown in what follows:
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