Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced in a specific time period. GDP (nominal) per capita does not, however, reflect differences in the cost of living and the inflation rates of the countries; therefore using a basis of GDP per capita at purchasing power parity (PPP) is arguably more useful when comparing living standards between nations, while nominal GDP is more useful comparing national economies on the international market.
The modern concept of GDP was first developed by Simon Kuznets for a US Congress report in 1934. In this report, Kuznets warned against its use as a measure of welfare (see below under limitations and criticisms). After the Bretton Woods conference in 1944, GDP became the main tool for measuring a country’s economy.
GDP can be determined in three ways, all of which should, theoretically, give the same result. They are the production (or output or value added) approach, the income approach, or the speculated expenditure approach.
What is the GDP formula?
#1 Expenditure Approach
The most commonly used GDP formula, which is based on the money spent by various groups that participate in the economy.
GDP = C + G + I + NX
C = consumption or all private consumer spending within a country’s economy, including, durable goods (items with a lifespan greater than three years), non-durable goods (food & clothing), and services.
G = total government expenditures, including salaries of government employees, road construction/repair, public schools, and military expenditure.
I = sum of a country’s investments spent on capital equipment, inventories, and housing.
NX = net exports or a country’s total exports less total imports.
#2 Income Approach
This GDP formula takes the total income generated by the goods and services produced.
GDP = Total National Income + Sales Taxes + Depreciation + Net Foreign Factor Income
Total National Income – the sum of all wages, rent, interest, and profits.
Sales Taxes – consumer taxes imposed by the government on the sales of goods and services.
Depreciation – cost allocated to a tangible asset over its useful life.
Net Foreign Factor Income – the difference between the total income that a country’s citizens and companies generate in foreign countries, versus the total income foreign citizens and companies generate in that country.
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