Introduction

Production or value-added method

Watch the following video clip on the production or value-added method and complete the table:

Complete the table based on the values in the video clip:

Production or value-added method
Participants Value added in $
Cotton farmer
Thread maker
Fabric maker
Jeans producer
Total value added  
Production or value-added method
Participants Value added in $
Cotton farmer 10
Thread maker 10
Fabric maker 10
Jeans producer 20
Total value added 50

Three approaches to the measurement of GDP: Activities

You are given the following information about the production of 1 000 loaves of bread:

A farmer uses her own labour, seed, fertiliser and land she rents to produce 100 bags of wheat. She sell these bags of wheat to a miller for R1 000. The miller then uses the wheat he has bought for R1 000 to produce 200 kg of flour, which he sells for R3 000 to the baker. The baker uses this flour for which he has paid R3 000 to bake 1 000 loaves of bread. He sells these loaves as final goods to households for R5 000.

1 What is the value added by the farmer?

Incorrect.

The value added is R1 000.

Correct.

The value added by the farmer is R1 000.

2 What is the value added by the miller?

Incorrect.

This is the cost of the wheat he bought from the farmer. It is an intermediate input.

Correct.

He bought the wheat for R1 000, added value of R2 000 to turn it into flour and sold the flour for R3 000 to the baker.

Incorrect.

He bought the wheat for R1 000, added value of R2 000 to turn it into flour and sold the flour for R3 000 to the baker.

3 What is the value added by the baker?

Correct.

The baker bought the flour from the miller for R3 000, added value of R2 000 to turn it into loaves of bread and sold the loaves of bread to households for R5 000.

Incorrect.

The baker bought the flour from the miller for R3 000, added value of R2 000 to turn it into loaves of bread and sold the loaves of bread to households for R5 000.

Incorrect.

The baker bought the flour from the miller for R3 000, added value of R2 000 to turn it into loaves of bread and sold the loaves of bread to households for R5 000.

4 What is the value of total production?

Correct.

The value added by the farmer of R1 000, plus that by the miller of R2 000 and that by the baker of R2 000 = R5 000, which is the value of the total production.

Incorrect.

This is double counting. To get to the value of total production, add the value added by the farmer of R1 000, by the miller of R2 000 and by the baker of R2 000 = R5 000.

Expenditure method

The expenditure value involves calculating the total expenditure on final goods.

5 Given the following example, what is the total value of the final expenditure on loaves of bread?

A farmer uses her own labour, seed, fertiliser and land she rents to produce 100 bags of wheat. She sells these bags of wheat to a miller for R1 000. The miller then uses the wheat he has bought for R1 000 to produce 200 kg of flour, which he sells for R3 000 to the baker. The baker uses this flour for which he has paid R3 000 to bake 1 000 loaves of bread. He sells these loaves as final goods to households for R5 000.

Correct.

The total expenditure on final goods (loaves of bread) is 1 000 x R5 = R5 000.

Incorrect.

This is what happens if the expenditure on intermediate goods is added. To avoid this double counting, only the value of the final goods is used.

Income method

The income method focuses on the income earned in the form of rent, interest, wages and profit.

6 Given the following scenario, what is the total rent, interest, wages and profit (total income)?

A farmer uses her own labour, seed, fertiliser and land she rents to produce 100 bags of wheat. She sells these bags of wheat to a miller for R1 000. Her rent is R300, the interest she pays is R200 and her profit is R500. The miller then uses the wheat he has bought for R1 000 to produce 200 kg of flour, which he sells for R3 000 to the baker. His rent is R500, his labour cost is R800 and his profit is R700. The baker uses this flour for which he has paid R3 000 to bake 1 000 loaves of bread. He sells these loaves as final goods to households for R5 per loaf. His rent is R400, his interest is R200, his labour cost is R800 and his profit is R600.

Rent: R300 + R500 + R400 = R1 200
Interest: R200 + R200 = R400
Wages: R800 + R800 = R1 600
Profit: R500 + R700 + R600 = R1 800

Note that according to the income method the total value is R5 000.

Production = Income = Expenditure on final goods

7 Given the following scenario, what is the value of production, income and expenditure on final goods?

A farmer uses her own labour, seed, fertiliser and land she rents to produce 100 bags of wheat. She sells these bags of wheat to a miller for R1 000. Her rent is R300, the interest she pays is R200 and her profit is R500. The miller then uses the wheat he has bought for R1 000 to produce 200 kg of flour, which he sells for R3 000 to the baker. His rent is R500, his labour cost is R800 and his profit is R700. The baker uses this flour for which he has paid R3 000 to bake 1 000 loaves of bread. He sells these loaves as final goods to households for R5 per loaf. His rent is R400, his interest is R200, his labour cost is R800 and his profit is R600.

Production
(Value added)

Income

Expenditure of final goods

Farmer: R1 000

Rent: R1 200

 

1 000 x R5

Miller: R2 000

Interest: R400

Baker: R2 000

Wages: R1 600

Profit: R1 800

R5 000

R5 000

R5 000

Note that production = income = expenditure of final goods = R5 000.