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Why isn't per capita GDP always an accurate reflection of people's wealth?

a) It measures income distribution inaccurately
b) It considers only the average income
c) It excludes non-monetary assets
d) It focuses on imports rather than exports

1 Answer

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Final answer:

Per capita GDP is not always an accurate reflection of people's wealth due to income inequality, the distribution of wealth, and the focus on imports rather than exports.

Step-by-step explanation:

GDP per capita is a measure that calculates the average wealth of individuals in a country by dividing the country's GDP by its population. However, per capita GDP can be an imperfect reflection of people's wealth due to various reasons.

One reason is that per capita GDP does not account for income inequality within a country. It averages out the income of all individuals, so even if there are a few extremely wealthy individuals, the majority of the population may still be living in poverty.

Another reason is that per capita GDP reflects the average wealth but does not capture the distribution of wealth. It does not consider factors such as the cost of living, disparities in purchasing power, or differences in the availability of goods and services.

Lastly, per capita GDP focuses on imports rather than exports. Imports are subtracted from GDP, while exports are not included. This can create a skewed view of a country's wealth, especially if it relies heavily on imports and has a trade deficit.

In conclusion, per capita GDP is a useful indicator but has limitations in accurately measuring people's wealth due to income inequality, distribution of wealth, and the focus on imports rather than exports.

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