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Fundamentals of Macroeconomics

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Fundamentals of Macroeconomics Paper
Brainard C. Simpson II
ECO 372
September 29, 2014
Paul Updike

Fundamentals of Macroeconomics Paper
Every country measures its overall economic health by measuring GDP (Gross Domestic Product). It represents the total dollar value of all goods and services produced over a specific time period. The income approach, which is sometimes referred to as GDP (I), is calculated by adding up total compensation to employees, gross profits for incorporated and non incorporated firms, and taxes minus any subsidies. The expenditure method is the more common approach and is calculated by adding total consumption, investment, government spending and net exports. This paper will focus on this approach highlighting the three specific variables that effect GDP, households (buying groceries), business (massive layoffs), and government (decrease in taxes). All of these inputs have an effect on a nation GDP. I will illustrate how all these inputs affect GDP directly, and how they are interrelated.
Households
Every household plays a role in the measure of GDP. A household represents the purchasing power of the individual. The more disposable income in a household, the more they can spend, which in turn stimulates the economy. Buying groceries is the simplest measure of disposable income. Grocery purchasing is important to GDP because the state of the economy will determine how much a family would be able to purchase from the local grocery store. If there is a sign of inflation, the prices could rise, and then the average consumer may cut back on what they would normal spend on groceries. Every household is affected by the amount of groceries that are purchased because there has to be enough for everyone to eat. This ties directly into the idea of scarcity. The household may need government assistance to purchase food if they are not able to

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