What is capital formation?
Capital formation is a concept of macroeconomics, and it means building up more tangible assets that a country can use to produce goods and generate income. Investing in new assets that contribute to future economic growth is a necessary step toward a nation’s economic well-being.
The main objective of capital accumulation is to enhance a country’s overall income and foster its economic development. It helps calculate a country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which is a measurement of its financial health. Capital accumulation stimulates the manufacturing and services sectors, leading to increased production and economic prosperity within the nation. Capital formation is also necessary to replace old and obsolete assets to maintain sustained production levels, or else, the country’s output may decline.
Capital Formation Explained
Capital formation refers to the net increase in a country's physical assets over a specific accounting period, which is essential for the future production of goods and services. This concept was introduced by economist Simon Smith Kuznets and is often synonymous with net capital accumulation. Adam Smith, a renowned economist, used the concept of capital accumulation to explain why some nations are wealthier than others.
Economists emphasize that capital accumulation is a fundamental driver of economic prosperity. It represents the ability of households or the government to save and invest, thereby creating tangible capital resources for future use. Sacrificing current consumption in favor of investment in new capital assets is a key aspect of this process. When households have higher incomes, they tend to invest in assets like stocks and bonds. Consequently, countries experience a surplus of funds when savings increase. As a result, increased capital formation by firms and institutions leads to greater production of goods and services, ultimately boosting national income. However, failing to replace aging capital equipment can result in decreased production.
Capital accumulation is sometimes referred to as "gross domestic capital formation" when there is a net increase in a country's physical assets due to improved savings at the household, state, and public levels. Sources of domestic capital accumulation include government taxation, borrowing, voluntary savings, and deficit financing. Additionally, capital accumulation encompasses the formation of human capital.
Furthermore, capital accumulation leads to an increase in the capital-to-labor ratio. This has two significant effects: First, countries with higher capital accumulation tend to experience greater labor productivity, directly contributing to economic growth through increased output. Second, it boosts effective demand as higher per capita income enhances purchasing power within the economy