Ontology: include OEP-tag `economy`

[sfluegel05]

Description of the issue

This comes from #33. The model factsheets use tags which should be represented in the ontology.

Ideas of solution

The tag economy is used by models 68, 168 and 169

The term economy is also mentioned in the sector sections of these model factsheets. Therefore we could add an economic sector class.

Workflow checklist

• [ ] I discussed the issue with someone else than me before working on a solution
• [ ] I already read the latest version of the workflow for this repository
• [ ] The goal of this ontology is clear to me

I am aware that

• [ ] every entry in the ontology should have a definition
• [ ] classes should arise from concepts rather than from words

[l-emele]

As sector is defined as a _... generically dependent continuant that is a subdivision of a system_, a economic sector would be something like a subdivision of an economic system, right? We currently don't have a economic system. Is a economic system equivalent to a economy?

@OpenEnergyPlatform/oeo-domain-expert-economy : What do you think?

[han-f]

As sector is defined as a ... _generically dependent continuant that is a subdivision of a system_, a economic sector would be something like a subdivision of an economic system, right?

Maybe we could define it as a subdivision of an economy instead if we can define economy as a system, which I think sounds feasible at first glance.

• Wikipedias definition seems practical:
  _An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services by different agents._

• Or this:
  _the system of trade and industry by which the wealth of a country is made and used_

We could then think about production (we have producer, maybe add production as a process?), distribution and trade as economic activities that take place in / across economic sectors.

We currently don't have a economic system. Is a economic system equivalent to a economy?

I think economic system in general is used to express the way in which the economy is governed, e.g. capitalism, communism .... I do not think we need this for now, but could rather define economy as a system itself...

[l-emele]

As sector is defined as a ... _generically dependent continuant that is a subdivision of a system_, a economic sector would be something like a subdivision of an economic system, right?

Maybe we could define it as a subdivision of an economy instead if we can define economy as a system, which I think sounds feasible at first glance.

I would not like to change the definition of sector as this was the result of a very long discussion process in #30.

* [Wikipedias](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Economy) definition seems practical:
  _An economy is an area of the production, distribution and trade, as well as consumption of goods and services by different agents._

* [Or this](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/economy):
  _the system of trade and industry by which the wealth of a country is made and used_

What about combining these two to the following definition: _An economy is a system of production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services_?

I think economic system in general is used to express the way in which the economy is governed, e.g. capitalism, communism .... I do not think we need this for now, but could rather define economy as a system itself...

Wikipedia seconds your understanding that we should avoid the label economic system. And you're right, we do not need cover capitalism, communism etc. in the OEO.

[l-emele]

We could then think about production (we have producer, maybe add production as a process?), distribution and trade as economic activities that take place in / across economic sectors.

The concepts production, distribution, trade and consumption are all processes. Two of them we already defined:

• _A trade is a process in which one commodity or service is exchanged for another commodity or service._
• _Consumption is the process of using something and thereby reducing its amount._

I suggest that we open separate issues for production and distribution

[sfluegel05]

As sector is defined as a _... generically dependent continuant that is a subdivision of a system_, a economic sector would be something like a subdivision of an economic system, right?

My original thought was that the system is society as a whole which then can be devided into economy, research, education, etc.
But I also agree that economy can be defined as a system itself.

What about combining these two to the following definition: _An economy is a system of production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services_?

I like this definition. Maybe we can use _commodities and services_ instead of _goods and services_. That way we would be closer to the OEO-vocabulary.

[l-emele]

I think, _good_ is more general than _commodity_. In my understanding, not every good is a commodity as there are also goods which are not exchangeable (for example things that are only produced once and are therefore unique). FIBO defines good as: _physical, produced item over which ownership rights can be established, whose ownership can be passed from one party to another by engaging in transactions, and that is not money or real estate_

[sfluegel05]

In that case, we should use the opportunity and add a class good to the OEO. We could use the same structure as for commodity (defining a role and an equivalent class) and make commodity a subclass of good.

[han-f]

I would not like to change the definition of sector as this was the result of a very long discussion process in #30.

Yes, this makes sense. I did not mean to change the definition of sector. Given the status of the discussion now, we could avoid this if we define economyas a system, right?

[l-emele]

Yes, exactly.

[sfluegel05]

We have the following definitions:

• economy: _An economy is a system of production, distribution, trade and consumption of goods and services._
• good role: _The role of a physical, produced item over which ownership rights can be established, whose ownership can be passed from one party to another by engaging in transactions, and that is not money or real estate._ (definition source: https://spec.edmcouncil.org/fibo/ontology/FND/ProductsAndServices/ProductsAndServices/Good)
• good: _A material entity that has the good role._ (Equivalent To material entity and (has role some good role), parent class of commodity)

[l-emele]

Okay, seems we have a solution we can agree on. I'll implement.