Question

The gross domestic product (GDP) of the United States is defined as the market value of allfinal goods and services produced within the United States in a given period of time. Based on this definition, indicate which of the following transactions will be included in (that is, directly increase) the GDP of the United States in 2018.

a. An accountant starts a client's 2018 tax return on April 14, 2019, finishing it just before midnight on April 15, 2019. Chocolate Express, a Swiss chocolate company, produces a chocolate bar at a plant in Illinois on December 5, 2018.
b. An elementary school student buys the chocolate bar on December 24. Rotato, a U.S. tire company, produces a set of tires at a plant in Michigan on September 13, 2018. It sells the set of tires to Speedmaster for use in the production of a two-door coupe that will be made in the United States in 2018. (Note: Focus exclusively on whether production of the set of tires increases GDP directly, and ignore the effect of production of the two-door coupe on GDP.)
c. Zippycar, a U.S. automobile company, produces a convertible at a manufacturing plant in Minneapolis on January 9, 2018. It sells the car at a dealership in San Diego on February 24, 2018.
d. Athleticus, a U.S. shoe company, produces a pair of sneakers at a plant in Vietnam on March 17, 2018. Athleticus imports the pair of sneakers into the United States on May 21, 2018.

Answer 1

Chocolate Express, a Swiss chocolate company, produces a chocolate bar at a plant in Illinois on December 5, 2018.

b. An elementary school student buys the chocolate bar on December 24..

c. Zippycar, a U.S. automobile company, produces a convertible at a manufacturing plant in Minneapolis on January 9, 2018. It sells the car at a dealership in San Diego on February 24, 2018.

d. Athleticus, a U.S. shoe company, produces a pair of sneakers at a plant in Vietnam on March 17, 2018. Athleticus imports the pair of sneakers into the United States on May 21, 2018.

Step-by-step explanation:

Gross domestic product is the total sum of final goods and services produced in an economy within a given period which is usually a year

GDP calculated using the expenditure approach = Consumption spending by households + Investment spending by businesses + Government spending + Net export

Net export = exports – imports

When exports exceed import there is a trade deficit and when import exceeds import, there is a trade surplus.

Items not included in the calculation off GDP includes:

1. services not rendered to oneself

2. Activities not reported to the government

3. illegal activities

4. sale or purchase of used products

5. sale or purchase of intermediate products

The accountant's work would be included in 2019's GDP

The chocolate purchase would be included in GDP as part of consumption expenditure

Tire is an intermediate good in this question and would not be included in GDP

The purchase of the shoe from Vietnam would have no effect on GDP because it decreases net export