The Methods of Measuring National Income

1076 Words3 Pages

NATIONAL INCOME

National income is the sum of money value of net flow of all the goods and services produced by normal residents of a country during a period of account.

According to Central Statistical Organization (CSO)

‘National income is the sum of factor incomes earned by normal residents of a country in the form of wages, interest and profit in an accounting year.’

National product is the net output of commodities and services flowing during the year from the country’s productive system into the hands of ultimate consumers or into the net addition to the country’s capital goods.

Methods of Measuring National Income

In every economy the circular flow of production, income and expenditure remains in operation continuously due to the economic activities. Production generates income which leads to the creation of demand for goods and services and hence expenditure. National income can be measured at every stage of circular flow of production, income and expenditure. At production stage net value of final goods and services produced in the country in a year is calculated. It also includes net factor income earned from abroad. At income level net annual factor income is added along with net factor income from abroad. At expenditure level, national income is measured by adding the net value of final expenditure and the net factor income from abroad. Thus there are three methods of measurement of national income:

1. Product Method or Value Added Method

2. Income Method

3. Expenditure Method

National Income

Product Method or Value Added Method

This is also known as the ‘Inventory Method’ or ‘Commodity Service Method’. This method approaches national income from the output side. According to this method the economy is...

... middle of paper ...

...ountry depends upon the nature and condition of the economy as well as the purpose of undertaking this exercise? The best way to arrive at national income will be to employ all these three methods so as to permit their cross- checking ensuring greater accuracy and throwing more light on details.

Difficulties in Calculation of National Income

Although all methods are used almost in all countries to calculate national income, yet the calculation is a complex affair and is best with conceptual and statistical difficulties. Kuznets mentions the following difficulties:

• Difficulty of defining the nation

• Non-marketed services

• Inapplicability of any one method

• Which stage to choose

• Paucity of statistics

• How to avoid double counting

• Identification of transfer payments

• Self-consumed production

• Multiple occupations

• Incorrect statistics

More about The Methods of Measuring National Income

Open Document