National accounts
The national accounts are central to the economic policy-making. GDP is one of the key indicators, and it expresses the value of the country's total production and thus what is available to use for private consumption, public consumption, investment and net exports.
The development in GDP describes the economic growth, i.e. whether we become richer or poorer. The national accounts have many other important indicators, such as household savings. National accounts are compiled according to international guidelines (ESA2010) making it comparable between countries.
The National accounts describe the economic cycle. The setting is a consistent and balanced system of economic transactions and definitions that show how productive activity (when we go to work) creates income, which is then allocated (e.g. as wages) and redistributed (e.g. as taxes) before it provides a basis for the demand for goods and services for personal consumption and savings. The system also shows how savings are placed (e.g. as a bank deposit).
The National accounts are calculated at constant prices (chained values) and at current prices. National accounts in constant prices (chained values) have been adjusted for price developments. Accordingly, the development in real GDP (chained values) expresses the real economic growth.
In order to describe the economic cycle, the economic transactions and economic stakeholders are divided into different types and detailed classifications that are coherent and consistent with each other and over time. The annual national accounts have the most detailed accounting and consistent time series dating back to 1966.




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