What are the components of GDP?

The correct response identifies the four primary components that make up the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. These components are essential for understanding how economic activity is measured.

Consumption refers to the total spending by households on goods and services, playing a vital role since it typically accounts for a significant portion of GDP. Investment includes business expenditures on capital goods, such as machinery and buildings, which help to increase productive capacity. Government spending encompasses all government expenditures on goods and services, excluding transfer payments that are not directly used for production. Lastly, net exports measure the difference between a country's exports and imports, reflecting the international trade balance—this is crucial for gauging overall economic activity in an open economy.

Understanding these components helps to analyze how different sectors of the economy interact and contribute to national economic performance, making it a foundational concept in macroeconomics. The other choices do not correctly encapsulate the elements that directly contribute to GDP calculation, focusing instead on related but distinct economic factors.