Gross Domestic Product (GDP) GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a year GDP is an aggregate measure of the economy
Measuring GDP The Expenditure Approach (aggregate spending) C + Ig + G + Xn = GDP (nominal)
Consumption (C) Consumer spending on new goods and services Consumer spending is the largest component of U.S. GDP.
Gross Private Investment (Ig) Business spending Business spending on capital goods New construction Homes Commercial Real Estate Development Unsold stuff… (change in inventories)
Government Spending (G) All levels of government spending on final goods and services and infrastructure count toward GDP. Government transfer payments do not count toward GDP.
Net Exports (Xn) Exports – Imports We want to sell more than we buy… but we don’t
What does not count… Used goods/Second-Hand Goods Gifts or ‘Transfers’ (private or public) Stock/Equity/Security purchases (Places like NYSE or NASDAQ) Unreported Business Activities conducted in “cash” (ex. Unreported tips…)
What does not count… cont. Illegal activities (Black Markets) Financial Transactions between banks and Businesses Intermediate goods (no double counting) Non market activities like volunteer and family work
2 more things Nominal vs. Real GDP Nominal is not adjusted for inflation GDP per capita GDP per person Considered a better measure of economic wellbeing