output

output
The result of an economic process, available for sale or use elsewhere. Where a process produces goods, measurement of output is straightforward. Where a process produces services, measurement of output raises problems: an airport fire crew, for example, produces safety even in a year with no fires for them to put out. In the output approach to national income, the cost of inputs to non-marketed services has to be taken as a proxy for their output. See also demand-determined output, and potential output.