GDP

jee-dee-PEE /ˌdʒiː diː ˈpiː/
nounB2GRESATTOEFLIELTS
FormalStandard

Gross Domestic Product; the total monetary or market value of all the finished goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period.

GDP is the most common measure of a country's economic output and size. It's often used to gauge economic health, but it doesn't account for income distribution, environmental impact, or the value of non-market activities.

The story behind the word. GDP is an acronym for Gross Domestic Product. 'Gross' comes from Latin 'grossus' (thick, coarse, hence 'total' before deductions). 'Domestic' comes from Latin 'domesticus' (belonging to the house or family, hence 'within the country'). 'Product' comes from Latin 'productum' (something produced). The concept and its measurement gained prominence in the mid-20th century, largely replacing GNP as the primary measure of national economic activity after the Bretton Woods conference.

Word relationships

  • economic output: A more general term for the total production of goods and services.
  • national income: Related but refers to the total income earned by a country's residents and businesses.

Commonly confused with

  • GNP (Gross National Product): GNP measures the total value of goods and services produced by a country's residents, regardless of where they are located, whereas GDP focuses on production within a country's borders.

Collocations

  • real GDP
  • nominal GDP
  • GDP growth
  • per capita GDP
  • calculate GDP
  • boost GDP

Example sentences

  • "The country's GDP grew by 2.5% last quarter, indicating a healthy rate of economic expansion." An economic report.
  • "Falling consumer spending could negatively impact GDP figures for the upcoming year." A news headline.

Memory hook

Remember 'Gross Domestic Product' – the 'Gross' total of everything 'Domestically' 'Produced.' Total Production

When not to use

Do not use 'GDP' to refer to a company's revenue or profit; it exclusively measures national economic output.

Fun facts

  • Simon Kuznets, an economist, played a key role in developing the concept of GDP in the 1930s.
  • Bhutan famously uses 'Gross National Happiness' (GNH) as a measure of national well-being instead of solely focusing on GDP.
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