15 July 2014 | 51 comments (51 topical, editorial, 0 hidden)

European Parliament: Written question: Revision of the GDP calculation method (6 March 2014)

Question for written answer
to the Commission
Rule 117
Auke Zijlstra (NI)
Eurostat has revised the gross domestic product (GDP) calculation method. According to the new method, the Dutch GDP is almost EUR 45 billion (7.6%) higher. The new methodology takes into account illegal activities such as drug trafficking, piracy and smuggling. Out of the EUR 45 billion increase, EUR 2.4 billion come from illegal activities.
In the light of this:

Can the Commission state what the financial consequences of the new calculation method adopted by Eurostat will be for the Netherlands and for the other 27 Member States? Will the Dutch financial contribution to the EU budget have to be increased as well?

Can the Commission explain on what legal grounds the percentage of GDP generated by illegal activities can be included in the calculation carried out by Eurostat?

Can the Commission clarify why Eurostat differentiates between illegal activities -- which are taken into account for the sake of GDP calculations -- and the so-called black economy and grey economy? How can the Commission estimate the different sizes of the black and grey economies in the Member States?

A society committed to the notion that government is always bad will have bad government. And it doesn't have to be that way. — Paul Krugman

by Carrie (migeru at eurotrib dot com) on Tue Jul 15th, 2014 at 05:44:55 AM EST
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