GDP
The teacher strode across the class
Today understanding GDP is our task.
Take all that’s made and all that’s sold
Goods and services’ values involved
Each year these totals they are counted
And when this is done it’s all accounted.
To reach the very correct amount.
All economic tasks once so measured
Give us a number to be cherished.
Now like conkers in the playground
Each country can compare what’s found.
Numbers up, looking good, numbers down, sound alarm
The nation’s slacking, not pulling weight
Sir, I have a question, his hand uplifted
Is everything we do so listed?
Does this measure take account of all endeavour?
Are all our outputs included in the measure?
Indeed, they are, its maps our growth, our very status
Each year wealth it records at its latest.
All that matters to it refers.
Does it record the many things
To the table that government does bring?
Like what the teacher asked quite startled
Like police and schools, are they so marshalled?
Like all the work of NHS workers
The docs, the nurses and even shirkers?
Does it account for illegal trade
Or monies sent to off shore banks
Where tax departments are outflanked?
Or volunteers and those providing charity?
Are all these outputs in the GDP?
Well no, not really, did the teacher say
But surely sir this is where the value lays?
No, these services are provided from out taxes
We don’t pay a bill which us relaxes.
But surely sir the youth continued
These services still need valued
If we really want to count national output
And really measure total throughput?
The teacher coughed, began to splutter
Look all you need to know it what really matters
Is economic growth is the real importance
Other stuff is mere encumbrance.
With this the student looked most crestfallen
I only asked if what it counts is real important.
Does it add in pollution costs and loss of wildlife
Poisoned rivers and social strife?