National Income Concepts
National income means the value of goods and services produced by a country during
a financial year. Thus, it is the net result of all economic activities of any country during a period
of one year and is valued in terms of money. National income is an uncertain term and is often
used interchangeably with the national dividend, national output, and national expenditure. We
can understand this concept by understanding the national income definition.
According to Marshall: “The labor and capital of a country acting on its natural
resources produce annually a certain net aggregate of commodities, material and immaterial
including services of all kinds. This is the true net annual income or revenue of the country or
national dividend.”
The definition as laid down by Marshall is being criticized on the following grounds.
Due to the varied category of goods and services, a correct estimation is very difficult.
There is a chance of double counting, hence National Income cannot be estimated correctly.
For example, a product runs in the supply from the producer to distributor
to wholesaler to retailer and then to the ultimate consumer. If on every movement commodity is
taken into consideration then the value of National Income increases.
Also, one other reason is that there are products which are produced but not marketed.
For example, In an agriculture-oriented country like India, there are commodities which though
produced but are kept for self-consumption or exchanged with other commodities. Thus there
can be an underestimation of National Income.
Read more about Income and Expenditure Method here in detail
Simon Kuznets defines national income as “the net output of commodities and services flowing
during the year from the country’s productive system in the hands of the ultimate consumers.”
Following are the Modern National Income definition
GDP
GNP
Gross Domestic Product
The total value of goods produced and services rendered within a country during a year is
its Gross Domestic Product.
Further, GDP is calculated at market price and is defined as GDP at market prices. Different
constituents of GDP are:
1. Wages and salaries
2. Rent
3. Interest
4. Undistributed profits
5. Mixed-income
6. Direct taxes
7. Dividend
8. Depreciation
Gross National Product
For calculation of GNP, we need to collect and assess the data from all productive activities,
such as agricultural produce, wood, minerals, commodities, the contributions to production by
transport, communications, insurance companies, professions such (as lawyers, doctors,
teachers, etc). at market prices.
It also includes net income arising in a country from abroad. Four main constituents of GNP are:
1. Consumer goods and services
2. Gross private domestic income
3. Goods produced or services rendered
4. Income arising from abroad.
GDP and GNP on the basis of Market Price and Factor Cost
a) Market Price
The Actual transacted price including indirect taxes such as GST, Customs duty etc. Such taxes
tend to raise the prices of goods and services in the economy.
b) Factor Cost
It Includes the cost of factors of production e.g. interest on capital, wages to labor, rent for land
profit to the stakeholders. Thus services provided by service providers and goods sold by the
producer is equal to revenue price.
Alternatively,
Revenue Price (or Factor Cost) = Market Price (net of) Net Indirect Taxes
Net Indirect Taxes = Indirect Taxes Net of Subsidies received
Hence,
Factor Cost shall be equal to
(Market Price) LESS (Indirect Taxes ADD Subsidies)
Net Domestic Product
The net output of the country’s economy during a year is its NDP. During the year a country’s
capital assets are subject to wear and tear due to its use or can become obsolete.
Hence, we deduct a percentage of such investment from the GDP to arrive at NDP.
So NDP=GDP at factor cost LESS Depreciation.
The Accumulation of all factors of income earned by residents of a country and includes income
earned from the county as well as from abroad.
Thus, National Income at Factor Cost shall be equal to
NNP at Market Price LESS (Indirect Taxes ADD Subsidies)