This chapter focused on the measurement of GDP. The total value of output (GDP) equals the total value of income generated in producing that output (GDI). We can illustrate the flows of spending and income through the economy with the circular flow model. Firms produce goods and services in response to demands from households (personal consumption), other firms (private investment), government agencies (government purchases), and the rest of the world (net exports). This production, in turn, creates a flow of factor incomes to households. Thus, GDP can be estimated using two types of data: (1) data that show the total value of output and (2) data that show the total value of income generated by that output.
In looking at GDP as a measure of output, we divide it into four components: consumption, investment, government purchases, and net exports. GDP equals the sum of final values produced in each of these areas. It can also be measured as the sum of values added at each stage of production. The components of GDP measured in terms of income (GDI) are employee compensation, profits, rental income, net interest, depreciation, and indirect taxes.
We also explained other measures of income such as GNP and disposable personal income. Disposable personal income is an important economic indicator, because it is closely related to personal consumption, the largest component of GDP.
GDP is often used as an indicator of how well off a country is. Of course, to use it for this purpose, we must be careful to use real GDP rather than nominal GDP. Still, there are problems with our estimate of real GDP. Problems encountered in converting nominal GDP to real GDP were discussed in the previous chapter. In this chapter we looked at additional measurement problems and conceptual problems.
Frequent revisions in the data sometimes change our picture of the economy considerably. Accounting for the service sector is quite difficult. Conceptual problems include the omission of nonmarket production and of underground and illegal production. GDP ignores the value of leisure and includes certain “bads.”
We cannot assert with confidence that more GDP is a good thing and that less is bad. However, real GDP remains our best single indicator of economic performance. It is used not only to indicate how any one economy is performing over time but also to compare the economic performance of different countries.
Look again at the circular flow diagram in Figure 21.5 "Spending in the Circular Flow Model" and assume it is drawn for the United States. State the flows in which each of the following transactions would be entered.
Given the following nominal data, compute GDP. Assume net factor incomes from abroad = 0 (that is, GDP = GNP).
Nominal Data for GDP and NNP | $ Billions |
---|---|
Consumption | 2,799.8 |
Depreciation | 481.6 |
Exports | 376.2 |
Gross private domestic investment | 671.0 |
Indirect taxes | 331.4 |
Government purchases | 869.7 |
Government transfer payments | 947.8 |
Imports | 481.7 |
Find data for each of the following countries on real GDP and population. Use the data to calculate the GDP per capita for each of the following countries:
Suppose Country A has a GDP of $4 trillion. Residents of this country earn $500 million from assets they own in foreign countries. Residents of foreign countries earn $300 million from assets they own in Country A. Compute:
Suppose a country’s GDP equals $500 billion for a particular year. Economists in the country estimate that household production equals 40% of GDP.
A miner extracts iron from the earth. A steel mill converts the iron to steel beams for use in construction. A construction company uses the steel beams to make a building. Assume that the total product of these firms represents the only components of the building and that they will have no other uses. Complete the following table:
Company | Product | Total Sales | Value Added |
---|---|---|---|
Acme Mining | iron ore | $100,000 | ? |
Fuller Mill | steel beams | $175,000 | ? |
Crane Construction | building | $1,100,000 | ? |
Total Value Added | ? |
You are given the data below for 2008 for the imaginary country of Amagre, whose currency is the G.
Consumption | 350 billion G |
Transfer payments | 100 billion G |
Investment | 100 billion G |
Government purchases | 200 billion G |
Exports | 50 billion G |
Imports | 150 billion G |
Bond purchases | 200 billion G |
Earnings on foreign investments | 75 billion G |
Foreign earnings on Amagre investment | 25 billion G |