Focus Question: How is a country's overall level of income, employment and prices determined by the individual spending and production decisions of households, firms, and government?

Annual United States GDP growth from 1923 to 2009.

• The amount of revenue created by individuals determines the size and scope of business in a country which includes level of employment.
• A country that is quite successful in terms of private business and household economy will be one that is able to employ more workers at a higher rate of pay.
• Governments and companies must spend money to be successful in their production and thus will create a better economy for said country.
• Gross Domestic Product is a mathematical way of determining a country's standard of living by measuring the production within a country.
• Gross National Product measures the productivity of all members of a society, whether they are working or not.

Robert F. Kennedy's statement about Gross National ProductMarch, 1968.


Classification of Countries by Income



"The World Distribution of Household Wealth"


World Poverty Map