Explain why the purchase and sale of used goods and of financial ...

[NguyenJ]

Explain why the purchase and sale of used goods and of financial assets are not included in the calculation of GDP even though transactions in these items amount to billions of dollars daily.
 
  What will be an ideal response?

Question 2

Comparing the U.S. balance of payments in 2012 to the rest of the world, we see that the
 
  A) U.S. current account is similar in size to most developed nations and has a deficit.
  B) United States has the largest current account surplus.
  C) United States has the largest capital and financial account deficit.
  D) United States has the largest current account deficit.
  E) U.S. current account is similar in size to most developed nations and has a surplus.

[Kimmy]

Answer to Question 1

GDP measures the value of the goods and services produced in a given year. The key phrase in the definition is produced in a given year. Used goods are counted in the GDP of the year in which they are produced and so they are not counted if they are bought and sold again. Financial assets, such as buying and selling stocks and bonds, are not production. These transactions are purely financial and are simply the changing of the ownership of assets. Hence neither the purchase nor the sale of used goods nor of financial assets are included in GDP.

Answer to Question 2

D

[NguyenJ]

TYSM

[gcook]

Thanks for the timely response, appreciate it