Stock vs. flow (economics)
In economics, the distinction is often made between stock variables and flow variables. A "stock" is something one has accumulated and has on hand at any one time. For example, a person or country might have stocks of money, financial assets, real means of production liabilities, and human capital (or labor-power). On the other hand, a "flow" is something that occurs over time, for example, the accumulation that leads to the existence of the stock or its depreciation. Other flows include income, spending, saving, debt repayment, and labor.
see saving.
