Gross Domestic Product (GDP) can often underestimate true economic production because it does not account for __________, which includes services provided without monetary exchange.

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) measures the total value of all goods and services produced in a country, but it can underestimate the true economic activity because it does not include unpaid work. This unpaid work often happens in households, like when a parent stays home to take care of children or when friends help each other with tasks. These services, while valuable, do not have a direct price tag attached to them, so they are not counted in GDP calculations. For example, if a parent spends hours cooking and cleaning for their family, that work contributes to the family's well-being but is not reflected in GDP. As a result, GDP may not fully capture the economic contributions of all individuals in society.