GDP gap

Question

"The economic cost of unemployment is measured by the GDP gap." Explain this statement. ?

Answer 1

The GDP gap refers to the gap between current GDP and the GDP that corresponds to full employment level. The latter is also called the ‘potential GDP’. When there is unemployment the economy is unable to produce at potential level and the shortfall is the cost that the economy pays in economic terms. This is the cost in economic terms as it is the ’economy’s’ loss. There are other costs of unemployment, but they are personal and restricted to the unemployed person and his family.