Conversation

True or false: “things you do for yourself don’t count towards GDP” (where “do” does not include “buy”)
8
13
Replying to
True. This is the main reason why personal housework doesn't count, but hiring a maid does. Repairing your car doesn't, but buying the motor oil does. If you can mediate it via money, you can tax it. Thus the push to moneyize everything.
1
2
Replying to
But in doing housework or repair your car, you use skills and tools that you probably got in the financial economy. Even something as apparently outside-the-economy as picking wild mushrooms probably utilizes information you got off the internet using the GDP-ed skill of literacy
Replying to
Then I don't understand the question. Is it "does this activity get *counted* in GDP" or "is there anything that hasn't been touched at all by the economy"?
1