The subjective theory of value (STV) is an economic theory for explaining how the value of goods and services are not only established but also how they can fluctuate over time. The contrasting system is typically known as the labor theory of value.
STV's development helped to better understand human action and decision making in economics. The theory claims that the value of a good is not determined by any inherent property of the good, nor by the cumulative value of components or labor needed to produce it, but instead is determined by the individuals or entities who are buying (and/or selling) that good.