Your Country's GDP /GNP, Are You A Brake Or Driver Of It?

[mongers]

I'm interested in how you see yourself in relation to your country's GDP or GNP, do you cumulative economic choices as a driver or or a brake on it's growth? 

Me, I've gotten pretty bad at keeping my end of the Faustian bargain, after housing costs and bills, I often really struggle to be bothered about being involved in the consumer society.  So I'm a definite brake.

[Monoriu]

I don't understand.  My impression, which may be wrong, is that every dollar spent in the economy adds to GDP.  So everybody is a driver, the only difference is to what extent. 

[Razgovory]

When I was in school I used to throw away nickels to fight inflation.

[Admiral Yi]

I don't understand.  My impression, which may be wrong, is that every dollar spent in the economy adds to GDP.  So everybody is a driver, the only difference is to what extent.

I think he's asking how much discretionary consumer spending do you do.  How much stuff (or services, like luxurious overseas vacations) that you don't need do you buy.

[Monoriu]

I don't understand.  My impression, which may be wrong, is that every dollar spent in the economy adds to GDP.  So everybody is a driver, the only difference is to what extent.

I think he's asking how much discretionary consumer spending do you do.  How much stuff (or services, like luxurious overseas vacations) that you don't need do you buy.

Or is he asking about the percentage of money that we spend?  Someone who lives below his means and puts a large chunk of his income into savings could be interpreted as a "drag" on the economy.

[Zanza]

like luxurious overseas vacations

Do these add to the home nation's GDP?

[DGuller]

There aren't that many people that are a brake on GDP.  These kinds of people are either criminals, or part of parasitic professions (the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

[Admiral Yi]

Do these add to the home nation's GDP?

No.  Except maybe the transpo.

[The Brain]

I'm an excellent driver.

[crazy canuck]

(the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

Accountants are not overpaid that much are they 

[crazy canuck]

I don't understand.  My impression, which may be wrong, is that every dollar spent in the economy adds to GDP.  So everybody is a driver, the only difference is to what extent.

I think he's asking how much discretionary consumer spending do you do.  How much stuff (or services, like luxurious overseas vacations) that you don't need do you buy.

Probably.  In those terms I don't spend much generally.  As my income increased I have not felt the need to surround myself with a lot of the status symbols that seem to be attractive to many of my peers.  So in that regard I am probably a drag on GDP (although my favourite BC Wineries, local restaurants, butcher, grocer etc might think otherwise  )

I spend a lot of time providing pro bono advice to a number of non profits.  That is also probably a drag on GDP since they don't have to otherwise purchase those services.  But it probably also saves the state and taxpayer a lot in the long run.  So I would like to think I am a net contributor to society aside from the taxes I pay.

[MadImmortalMan]

There aren't that many people that are a brake on GDP.  These kinds of people are either criminals, or part of parasitic professions (the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

Even those can technically be a positive. Destroying something nobody needs that is valued at 200k in order to build something useful valued at 100k is not really a loss.

[DGuller]

There aren't that many people that are a brake on GDP.  These kinds of people are either criminals, or part of parasitic professions (the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

Even those can technically be a positive. Destroying something nobody needs that is valued at 200k in order to build something useful valued at 100k is not really a loss.

If it's not needed, then it won't be valued at 200k.  Parasitic professions tend to abuse government power in one way or another, though sometimes it really is due to a massive bout of irrationality (people think the parasites are creating value when they are in reality destroying it).

[alfred russel]

There aren't that many people that are a brake on GDP.  These kinds of people are either criminals, or part of parasitic professions (the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

So basically, people are drivers of their country's GDP, unless they are a member of the bar, or believe they may soon need a member of the bar to represent them in a criminal matter.

[DGuller]

There aren't that many people that are a brake on GDP.  These kinds of people are either criminals, or part of parasitic professions (the ones that destroy $200k of value to earn $100k).

So basically, people are drivers of their country's GDP, unless they are a member of the bar, or believe they may soon need a member of the bar to represent them in a criminal matter.