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News Release 15-034

R&D expenditures recognized as investment in U.S. GDP statistics

Updated R&D-to-GDP ratios going back to 1953 are now available

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man using laser in a lab

BEA now classifies expenditures in research and development as investment when it estimates U.S. GDP. Previously, private sector R&D was treated as an intermediate cost of production. The R&D-to-GDP ratios produced by the NSF's NCSES are now slightly lower.

Credit: U.S. Air Force


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