Final answer:
Transfer payments are not included in GDP calculations because they are simply transfers of income from one group to another and not a purchase of a new good or service.
Step-by-step explanation:
Transfer payments are not included in GDP calculations because they are simply transfers of income from one group to another and not a purchase of a new good or service. GDP, or Gross Domestic Product, measures the total value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders during a specific period of time. Transfer payments, such as government payments to individuals like welfare or unemployment compensation, do not represent production and therefore do not contribute to GDP calculations.