This article is about a term used in economics. For other uses, see service (disambiguation).

In economics and marketing, a service is the non-material equivalent of a good. Service provision has been defined as an economic activity that does not result in ownership, and this is what differentiates it from providing physical goods. It is claimed to be a process that creates benefits by facilitating either a change in customers, a change in their physical possessions, or a change in their intangible assets.

By supplying some level of skill, ingenuity, and experience, providers of a service participate in an economy without the restrictions of carrying stock (inventory) or the need to concern themselves with bulky raw materials. On the other hand, their investment in expertise does require marketing and upgrading in the face of competition which has equally few physical restrictions.

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NPR Topics: Business

Boeing Workers Vote To Strike
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:07:00 -0400
Boeing's machinists have voted to strike, but also to return to the bargaining table for one last try. Boeing and the International Association of Machinists will have 48 hours to see if they can close the gap on pay, benefits and job security.
Overbooking Blues: Stuck In The Middle Seat
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:57:00 -0400
With more flights filled to capacity, airline passengers are rediscovering the middle seat. Airplanes are now typically more than 80 percent full, and that can translate into a host of problems for travelers — including the possibility of getting bumped.
Why Politicians Like To Talk About Scranton
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:00:00 -0400
The gritty Pennsylvania city has emerged as a symbolic battleground this election season. We talk with the Obama campaign and a neighborhood organization about how a slumping economy is affecting Scranton.

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