nationalräkningar

nationalräkning, also known as national accounts, refers to the systematic compilation and analysis of a country's economic activity. These statistics provide a comprehensive snapshot of production, consumption, income, and expenditure flows within an economy over a specific period. The tradition of national accounting dates back to the early 20th century, with significant development after the 1944 International Monetary Fund (IMF) decision to standardize national accounts. In 1992, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the United Nations released the revised System of National Accounts (SNA 1993), which set the global benchmark for national statistics.

The core of a nationalräkning is the Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which measures the total value of final goods and services produced within a country. GDP can be calculated through three approaches: production (value added), income (wages, rents, interest, profits), and expenditure (consumption, investment, government spending, net exports). Other key aggregates include Gross National Income (GNI), net domestic product (NDP), and net national product (NNP). National accounts also cover national income distribution, national savings, and the balance of payments. Data are collected and compiled by national statistical agencies, often using surveys, administrative records, and business reports. The results are disseminated through official publications and databases, and form the basis for macroeconomic policy, investment decisions, and international comparisons.

While national accounts have boosted economic understanding, they face critiques regarding informal sector coverage, transfer payments, and environmental costs. Efforts to incorporate natural resource depletion and sustainability metrics reflect the evolving nature of nationalräkningar as tools for policy and research.