positional

Etymology

position + -al

adj

1. Relating to the position of something.
2. (economics) Having or pertaining to a value that is a function of its social desirability, as opposed to its utility.
   Of course, this ex post problem may have a negative feedback on the ex ante desirability of having market transactions for positional goods. 1998, Samuel Bowles, Maurizio Franzini, Ugo Pagano, The Politics and Economics of Power, page 61
   Since economics is about scarcity, its study must be based on positional conflict, as indicated by the behaviour of the nouveau riche, or of poor people, who proudly demonstrate their latest smartphones or plasma TV sets. 2013, Anastasios S. Korkotsides, Against Utility-Based Economics: On a Life-Based Approach, page 235
   Regarding saving and consumption, nonpositional and positional consumption are distinguished. 2014, Shenggen Fan, Ravi Kanbur, Shang-Jin Wei, The Oxford Companion to the Economics of China
   Max Weber was also aware of positional considerations when he defined social status as "an effective claim to social esteem in terms of positive or negative privileges" (Weber, 1922: 305). 2016, Stavros A. Drakopoulos, Comparisons in Economic Thought, page 69
3. (chess) Based on long-term strategy, on gaining and exploiting small advantages, and on analyzing the larger position, rather than calculating more immediate tactics.