Economic growth is an increase in the market value of a country’s production, measured by the aggregate measure of goods and services known as gross domestic product (GDP). An economy can grow through either a bigger population or higher productivity per worker. Either can raise the overall size of the economy, but only strong productivity growth drives per capita GDP growth and higher material standards of living.
Why do some countries experience high rates of growth that propel them to the ranks of the rich, while others see their populations stagnate and regress over time? And what is the key to long-term sustainable economic growth?
The answer is found in an economy’s institutions, the rules and customs that govern its economic behavior. These include laws, regulations, and the incentives that reward people for engaging in productive activities. Institutions influence the pace at which an economy grows.
The first step in generating economic growth is to put idle resources back to work. This is called the expenditure multiplier effect, where an initial increase in spending yields a greater increase in economic output. For example, if someone spends $10 million on a wind farm, that investment generates $8 million in additional economic activity. That $8 million is the money that people, businesses and government use to buy more goods and services. The more that happens, the faster an economy grows.