In business literature, '''Commoditizationcommoditization''' is defined as the process by which [[goods]] that have [[Value (economics)|economic value]] and are distinguishable in terms of attributes (uniqueness or [[brand]]) end up becoming simple [[Commodity|commodities]] in the eyes of the market or [[consumer]]s. It is the movement of a market from differentiated to undifferentiated price competition and from [[Monopoly|monopolistic]] to [[perfect competition]]. This is not to be confused with [[commodification]], which is a Marxist term for things being assigned economic value which they (according to Marxist theory) did not previously possess, by their being produced and presented sale, as opposed to personal use.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rushkoff.com/2005/09/04/commodified-vs-commoditized/ |title=Commodified vs. Commoditized |accessdate=2008-07-21 |last=Rushkoff |first=Douglas |authorlink=Douglas Rushkoff |date=2005-09-04}}</ref>
In social sciences, particularly [[Cultural Anthropology|anthropology]], the term is used interchangeably with [[commodification]] to describe the process of making [[Commodity|commodities]] out of any thing that did not used to be available for trade previously. <ref>Appadurai, Arjun, ed. (1986). ''The Social Life of Things: Commodities in a Cultural Perspective''. Cambridge UP, Cambridge.</ref> <ref>Greenwood, D.J. (1977). "'Culture by the Pound: An Anthropological Perspective on Tourism as Cultural Commoditization". In ''Hosts and Guests'', ed. V. L. Smith, pp. 129-139. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press.</ref>
This is not to be confused with [[commodification]], which is a Marxist term for things being assigned economic value which they (according to Marxist theory) did not previously possess, by their being produced and presented sale, as opposed to personal use.
