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Economy of Germany vs Romania compared: GDP & Debt

Updated on by Georank team

Germany has a GDP of $4.69T compared to $383B for Romania, ranking 3/197 and 42/197 by economy size, respectively.

Germany has $2.97T in government debt (63.5% of GDP), compared to $220B (57.4% of GDP) in Romania.

Germany vs Romania GDP by year

Germany
Romania
1x
Year GDP, current $
Germany Romania
2024 $4,685,592,577,805 $382,564,217,989
2023 $4,562,207,532,490 $347,757,995,759
2022 $4,201,021,706,479 $295,319,437,557
2021 $4,355,251,953,411 $285,071,280,114
2020 $3,941,398,957,074 $250,625,048,304
2019 $3,959,894,794,039 $250,080,428,512
2018 $4,055,433,215,302 $241,791,427,224
2017 $3,765,351,626,106 $210,147,385,855
2016 $3,536,787,895,179 $185,290,759,249
2015 $3,425,099,578,746 $177,885,131,240
2014 $3,964,870,735,761 $199,722,319,676
2013 $3,807,023,797,051 $189,798,603,751
2012 $3,596,483,233,406 $179,117,323,107
2011 $3,823,575,803,794 $192,623,977,894
2010 $3,467,093,769,667 $170,064,350,672
2009 $3,478,545,516,684 $174,110,532,659
2008 $3,808,197,720,125 $214,315,932,061
2007 $3,484,056,680,855 $174,588,782,939
2006 $3,046,308,753,671 $122,023,735,993
2005 $2,893,393,187,362 $98,454,380,120
2004 $2,852,317,768,062 $74,973,656,852
2003 $2,534,715,518,349 $57,806,384,143
2002 $2,102,350,798,306 $46,065,502,703
2001 $1,966,381,496,642 $40,395,116,581
2000 $1,966,980,701,145 $37,253,739,511
1999 $2,213,873,468,587 $35,953,156,754
1998 $2,247,760,364,566 $41,696,091,974
1997 $2,218,790,886,533 $35,575,214,078
1996 $2,506,576,553,158 $36,937,074,278
1995 $2,593,053,091,306 $37,430,162,103
1994 $2,215,282,632,277 $30,072,805,104
1993 $2,078,954,217,438 $26,361,160,450
1992 $2,141,377,582,968 $25,121,666,667
1991 $1,875,792,575,133 $28,850,634,900
1990 $1,778,162,195,860 $38,247,882,300
1989 $1,404,092,925,205 $41,450,777,202
1988 $1,406,367,016,372 $40,424,528,302
1987 $1,302,932,318,825 $38,067,567,568
1986 $1,050,092,624,516 -
1985 $735,218,723,093 -
1984 $727,767,760,979 -
1983 $773,507,930,295 -
1982 $779,421,633,755 -
1981 $803,404,797,058 -
1980 $953,772,499,462 -
1979 $884,574,218,333 -
1978 $743,182,891,918 -
1977 $602,698,323,086 -
1976 $521,658,712,133 -
1975 $492,434,094,920 -
1974 $446,934,971,657 -
1973 $399,833,571,167 -
1972 $300,899,944,795 -
1971 $250,900,942,397 -
1970 $216,629,229,947 -
1969 $177,733,486,326 -
1968 $156,527,292,653 -
1967 $145,100,667,773 -
1966 $143,304,275,684 -
1965 $134,774,688,191 -
1964 $123,330,404,665 -
1963 $112,232,503,744 -
1962 $105,895,435,234 -
1961 $96,558,204,043 -
1960 $84,619,845,881 -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

GDP per capita in Germany vs Romania by year

Germany
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
Romania
GDP per capita

GDP per capita, PPP
1x
Year Current $
Germany Romania
GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP GDP per capita GDP per capita, PPP
2024 $56,104 $73,552 $20,080 $49,077
2023 $54,777 $71,684 $18,244 $45,982
2022 $50,507 $69,049 $15,504 $41,979
2021 $52,349 $62,531 $14,908 $37,534
2020 $47,395 $58,686 $13,009 $34,194
2019 $47,656 $59,271 $12,910 $33,425
2018 $48,916 $56,273 $12,416 $29,383
2017 $45,554 $54,110 $10,728 $26,943
2016 $42,949 $51,570 $9,405 $23,905
2015 $41,930 $48,545 $8,977 $21,625
2014 $48,960 $47,939 $10,032 $20,633
2013 $47,207 $45,889 $9,498 $19,678
2012 $44,718 $44,229 $8,930 $19,808
2011 $47,631 $43,398 $9,561 $18,804
2010 $42,397 $39,726 $8,400 $17,355
2009 $42,472 $37,574 $8,548 $16,641
2008 $46,379 $38,444 $10,435 $16,782
2007 $42,351 $36,914 $8,360 $13,703
2006 $36,980 $34,741 $5,758 $11,554
2005 $35,084 $32,314 $4,618 $9,602
2004 $34,567 $31,753 $3,495 $8,989
2003 $30,711 $30,301 $2,679 $7,559
2002 $25,487 $29,514 $2,120 $7,162
2001 $23,878 $28,674 $1,825 $6,520
2000 $23,926 $27,474 $1,660 $5,850
1999 $26,965 $26,518 $1,600 $5,596
1998 $27,396 $25,446 $1,853 $5,545
1997 $27,047 $24,649 $1,577 $5,564
1996 $30,600 $24,169 $1,633 $5,746
1995 $31,747 $23,631 $1,650 $5,429
1994 $27,202 $22,869 $1,323 $4,995
1993 $25,617 $21,900 $1,158 $4,699
1992 $26,560 $21,746 $1,102 $4,515
1991 $23,443 $21,001 $1,254 $4,795
1990 $22,386 $19,468 $1,648 $5,280
1989 $17,829 - $1,790 -
1988 $17,997 - $1,753 -
1987 $16,739 - $1,659 -
1986 $13,511 - - -
1985 $9,464 - - -
1984 $9,347 - - -
1983 $9,900 - - -
1982 $9,950 - - -
1981 $10,246 - - -
1980 $12,183 - - -
1979 $11,322 - - -
1978 $9,517 - - -
1977 $7,711 - - -
1976 $6,659 - - -
1975 $6,259 - - -
1974 $5,660 - - -
1973 $5,065 - - -
1972 $3,824 - - -
1971 $3,204 - - -
1970 $2,771 - - -
1969 $2,281 - - -
1968 $2,025 - - -
1967 $1,886 - - -
1966 $1,871 - - -
1965 $1,774 - - -
1964 $1,637 - - -
1963 $1,502 - - -
1962 $1,431 - - -
1961 $1,316 - - -
1960 $1,162 - - -

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

Germany's GDP per capita is $56,104, ranking 19/197, compared to $20,080 in Romania, ranking 58/197. Adjusted for purchasing power (GDP per capita PPP), Germany ranks 20th at $73,552, while Romania ranks 47th at $49,077.

Economic indicators

Germany Romania
Gross domestic product
$4.69T
2024
$383B
2024
GDP rank
3/197
2024
42/197
2024
GDP growth
-0.5%
2023-2024
0.92%
2023-2024
GDP per capita
$56,104
2024
$20,080
2024
GDP per capita rank
19/197
2024
58/197
2024
GDP per capita, PPP
$73,552
2024
$49,077
2024
GDP per capita PPP rank
20/197
2024
47/197
2024
Government debt
$2.97T
2024
$220B
2024
Debt-to-GDP ratio
63.5%
2024
57.4%
2024
Government debt per person
$35,606
2024
$11,533
2024
Government debt per person rank
21/185
2024
48/185
2024
Average annual personal income after taxes
$41,775
2026
$13,912
2026
Market capitalization of domestic companies
$2.04T
2024
$47.4B
2024
Number of millionaires
2,675,000
2025
n/a
Number of billionaires
171
2025
6
2025
Income share by richest 10%
25%
2020
21.8%
2023
Income share by poorest 10%
2.9%
2020
2.4%
2023
Government expenditure, % of GDP
49.4%
2024
39.9%
2024
Consumer prices inflation
2.26%
2023-2024
5.6%
2023-2024
Central bank interest rate n/a
6.5%
2024
Unemployment rate
3.37%
2024
5.43%
2024
Population
82575542
18839108

Spending and national debt comparison by year

Germany
Spending

Debt
Romania
Spending

Debt
1x
Year % of GDP
Germany Romania
Government spending Government debt Government spending Government debt
2024 49.4% 63.5% 39.9% 57.4%
2023 48.1% 62.4% 36.6% 52.1%
2022 48.6% 64.4% 37.4% 51.7%
2021 50.7% 68% 37% 51.5%
2020 51.1% 68% 38.1% 49.3%
2019 45.5% 58.7% 33.2% 36.5%
2018 44.7% 60.8% 31.7% 36.2%
2017 44.5% 64% 31% 37.1%
2016 44.7% 68.3% 31.8% 39.5%
2015 44.5% 71.2% 34.2% 39.4%
2014 44.5% 74.5% 33.8% 40.5%
2013 45.2% 77.5% 34.2% 39.3%
2012 45.1% 79.8% 33.5% 36.2%
2011 45.3% 78.5% 35% 32.6%
2010 48.1% 81% 37.4% 30.2%
2009 48.3% 72.4% 36.3% 22.5%
2008 44.4% 65.2% 35.3% 13%
2007 43.5% 63.7% 34.6% 12.4%
2006 45.3% 66.4% 33.9% 12.7%
2005 46.9% 67.1% 32.3% 17.8%
2004 47% 65% 33.7% 21.3%
2003 48.5% 63.3% 31.8% 24.9%
2002 48.2% 59.8% 32.1% 27.4%
2001 47.7% 58.1% 33.2% 27.4%
2000 48.1% 59.2% 35% 29.6%
1999 48.5% 60.3% 35.1% 21.7%
1998 48.3% 59.4% 34.7% 16.5%
1997 48.8% 58.8% 33.5% 15%
1996 49.6% 57.7% 33.5% 11%
1995 55.2% 54.9% 34.4% 6.91%
1994 48.3% 47.5% 33.1% -
1993 48.3% 45.1% 33.5% -
1992 47.4% 41.4% 41.5% -
1991 46.5% 39% 38.3% -
1990 44.7% 40.7% 38.4% -
1989 44.3% 39.2% 40.1% -
1988 45.6% 40.5% 36.6% -
1987 46% 40.1% 40.7% -
1986 45.7% 39.1% 42.5% -
1985 46.6% 39.2% 41.6% -
1984 47.2% 38.7% 28.6% -
1983 47.9% 38% 25.8% -
1982 49.1% 36.4% 28.5% -
1981 49% 33.6% 30.4% -
1980 48.2% 30.1% 33.6% -
1979 47.4% 28.2% 42% -
1978 47.7% 27.4% 42.1% -
1977 49% 26% 39.9% -
1976 49.4% 25.1% 37.5% -
1975 50.3% 23.7% 40.6% -
1974 46% 18.5% 37.6% -
1973 42.4% 17.3% 32.6% -
1972 41.8% 18% 29.9% -
1971 40.9% 17.7% 27.2% -
1970 39.5% 17.7% 28.1% -
1969 29.7% 20.3% 32.1% -
1968 28.5% 22.5% 31.8% -
1967 28.8% 22.5% 30.6% -
1966 28.3% 19.8% 27.3% -
1965 28.4% 18.7% 25.6% -
1964 29% 18.2% 25.1% -
1963 29.1% 18.1% 23.1% -
1962 29.2% 17.6% 43.4% -
1961 28.8% 18.7% - -
1960 22.9% 18.4% - -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1960–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

In 2024, Germany's government spending was $2.32T, accounting for 49.4% of its GDP, while Romania spent $153B, or 39.9% of GDP.

Debt-to-GDP ratio is 63.5% in Germany and 57.4% in Romania, ranking 72/185 and 87/185, respectively.

Government deficit by year

Deficit/surplus
Germany

Romania
1x
Year Deficit/surplus, % of GDP
Germany Romania
2024 -2.66% -8.68%
2023 -2.49% -5.61%
2022 -1.91% -5.83%
2021 -3.17% -6.7%
2020 -4.38% -9.54%
2019 1.33% -4.55%
2018 1.88% -2.74%
2017 1.34% -2.86%
2016 1.13% -2.5%
2015 0.91% -1.35%
2014 0.73% -1.76%
2013 0.12% -2.44%
2012 -0.05% -2.39%
2011 -0.84% -4.14%
2010 -4.42% -6.22%
2009 -3.18% -6.86%
2008 -0.26% -4.6%
2007 0.15% -3.05%
2006 -1.76% -1.36%
2005 -3.37% -0.69%
2004 -3.42% -3.39%
2003 -3.83% -2.29%
2002 -4.09% -2.59%
2001 -3.12% -3.2%
2000 -1.71% -3.99%
1999 -1.87% -3.58%
1998 -2.65% -5.33%
1997 -3.03% -5.19%
1996 -3.64% -4.74%
1995 -9.44% -3.32%
1994 -2.54% -2.2%
1993 -3.11% -0.35%
1992 -2.63% -4.55%
1991 -3.21% 3.23%
1990 -1.94% 1.03%
1989 0.08% -2.87%
1988 -2.02% 8.4%
1987 -1.85% 2.37%
1986 -1.18% 5.72%
1985 -1.18% 6.36%
1984 -2.04% 15.2%
1983 -2.95% 9.35%
1982 -3.56% 0.36%
1981 -4.03% 0.61%
1980 -3.02% -1.95%
1979 -2.71% 0%
1978 -2.62% 0%
1977 -2.56% 0.23%
1976 -3.5% 0.66%
1975 -5.78% 0.41%
1974 -1.69% 0.51%
1973 1.14% 1.53%
1972 -0.37% 1.21%
1971 0.16% 0.89%
1970 0.53% 0.52%
1969 -0.43% 0.93%
1968 1.39% 1.65%
1967 2.73% 1.23%
1966 1.76% 0.91%
1965 2.26% -1.29%
1964 1.49% -3.11%
1963 1.43% -1.61%
1962 0.49% -4.86%
1961 -0.12% -
1960 -0.34% -
1959 0.77% -
1958 1.77% -
1957 1.99% -
1956 0.59% -
1955 -1.41% -
1954 -0.37% -
1953 -0.13% -
1952 0% -
1951 1.15% -
1950 1.81% -
1949 - -
1948 - -
1947 - -
1946 - -
1945 - -
1944 - -
1943 - -
1942 - -
1941 - -
1940 - -
1939 - -
1938 - -
1937 - -
1936 - -
1935 - -
1934 -0.64% -
1933 -0.43% -
1932 -1.11% -
1931 -1.03% -
1930 -1.52% -
1929 -0.9% -
1928 -1.47% -
1927 -0.44% -
1926 -1.3% -
1925 0.34% -
1924 - -
1923 - -
1922 - -
1921 - -
1920 - -
1919 - -
1918 - -
1917 - -
1916 - -
1915 - -
1914 - -
1913 0.007% -
1912 -0.26% -
1911 0.06% -
1910 -0.21% -
1909 0.11% -
1908 -0.11% -
1907 -0.14% -
1906 0.76% -
1905 1.21% -
1904 0.41% -
1903 0.88% -
1902 0.08% -
1901 0.91% -
1900 0.27% -
1899 0.6% -
1898 0.47% -
1897 0.39% -
1896 0.63% -
1895 0.47% -
1894 0.44% -
1893 0.42% -
1892 -0.24% -
1891 1.18% -
1890 0.12% -
1889 1.16% -
1888 0.62% -
1887 0.88% -
1886 0.23% -
1885 0.21% -
1884 0.23% -
1883 0.55% -
1882 0.41% -
1881 0.12% -
1880 -0.13% -

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1990, retrieved 2026-02-20); International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

In 2024, Germany's government deficit, the difference between spending and revenue, was $125B, equivalent to 2.66% of GDP. This compares to Romania's deficit of $33.2B, or 8.68% of GDP.

Over the past 38 years, Germany recorded a fiscal deficit in 29 of those years, while Romania ran a deficit in 34 years. On average, Germany posted an annual deficit equal to 1.97% of GDP, compared to deficit of 3.06% of GDP for Romania.

Inflation comparison by year

Inflation
Germany

Romania
1x
Year Consumer prices inflation
Germany Romania
2024 2.26% 5.6%
2023 5.95% 10.4%
2022 6.87% 13.8%
2021 3.07% 5%
2020 0.14% 2.6%
2019 1.45% 3.8%
2018 1.73% 4.6%
2017 1.51% 1.3%
2016 0.49% -1.6%
2015 0.51% -0.6%
2014 0.91% 1.1%
2013 1.5% 4%
2012 2.01% 3.3%
2011 2.08% 5.8%
2010 1.1% 6.1%
2009 0.31% 5.6%
2008 2.63% 7.8%
2007 2.3% 4.8%
2006 1.58% 6.6%
2005 1.55% 9%
2004 1.67% 11.9%
2003 1.03% 15.4%
2002 1.42% 22.5%
2001 1.98% 34.5%
2000 1.44% 45.7%
1999 0.59% 45.8%
1998 0.91% 59.1%
1997 1.94% 154.8%

Data sources: International Monetary Fund (IMF) | World Economic Outlook (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20); World Bank | Economy & Growth (1997–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

Over the past 28 years, Germany has recorded an average annual inflation rate of 1.82%, compared with 17.5% in Romania. In 2024, inflation was 2.26% in Germany and 5.6% in Romania.

Top exports between countries

Germany
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $13.6B
Chemicals & pharma $3.57B
Metals $1.75B
Textiles & consumer goods $1.45B
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $1.2B
Raw materials & minerals $842M
Animal & marine products $685M
Wood & paper products $433M
Miscellaneous $318M
Raw agricultural goods $293M
Romania
Export category Export value
Machinery & equipment $15.3B
Transport & tourism services $2.06B
IT & IP services $1.96B
Business & finance services $1.68B
Metals $1.44B
Textiles & consumer goods $1.33B
Manufacturing & construction services $1.22B
Raw materials & minerals $982M
Chemicals & pharma $683M
Processed food, beverages & tobacco $282M

Balance of trade

Germany Romania
Current account balance
$270B
2024
-$31.2B
2024
Current account balance ranking
2/190
2024
185/190
2024
Current account balance, % of GDP
+5.77%
2024
-8.16%
2024
Goods imports
$1.21T
2024
$129B
2024
Goods exports
$1.47T
2024
$93.3B
2024
Service imports
$548B
2024
$30.2B
2024
Service exports
$470B
2024
$42.9B
2024
Imports of goods and services, % of GDP
37.7%
2024
41.6%
2024
Exports of goods and services, % of GDP
41.4%
2024
35.6%
2024

Economic freedom indices

The indices of economic freedom below are issued by the Heritage Foundation. Higher scores indicate stronger economic health.

Germany Romania
Economic freedom 71.7 65.4
Economic freedom ranking 30/197 64/197
Property rights 95.5 81
Government integrity 84.5 50
Judicial effectiveness 94.6 67
Tax burden 60.5 89.1
Government spending 28.8 56.7
Fiscal health 83.1 21.4
Business freedom 79.8 74.4
Labor freedom 52.2 63.6
Monetary freedom 72.5 72.7
Trade freedom 79.4 79.4
Investment freedom 60 70
Financial freedom 70 60

Economic freedom comparison by year

Germany
Romania
1x
Year Economic freedom index
Germany Romania
2026 71.7 65.4
2025 71.6 66.5
2024 72.1 64.4
2023 73.7 64.5
2022 76.1 67.1
2021 72.5 69.5
2020 73.5 69.7
2019 73.5 68.6
2018 74.2 69.4
2017 73.8 69.7
2016 74.4 65.6
2015 73.8 66.6
2014 73.4 65.5
2013 72.8 65.1
2012 71 64.4
2011 71.8 64.7
2010 71.1 64.2
2009 70.5 63.2
2008 70.6 61.7
2007 70.8 61.2
2006 70.8 58.2
2005 68.1 52.1
2004 69.5 50
2003 69.7 50.6
2002 70.4 48.7
2001 69.5 50
2000 65.7 52.1
1999 65.6 50.1
1998 64.3 54.4
1997 67.5 50.8
1996 69.1 46.2
1995 69.8 42.9

Data sources: The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

The Economic Freedom Index for Germany is 71.7, ranking 30/197, compared to 65.4 for Romania, ranking 64/197. The chart above displays a comparison of annual changes in economic freedom indexes.

Other economic metrics

Germany Romania
Services, % of GDP
64%
2024
62.6%
2024
Industry, % of GDP
25.6%
2024
25.3%
2024
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing, % of GDP
0.91%
2024
2.81%
2024
GNI, Atlas method
$4.6T
2024
$335B
2024
GNI per capita, PPP
$76,180
2024
$47,920
2024
Total reserves including gold
$378B
2024
$73.4B
2024
Total reserves ranking
10/177
2024
35/177
2024
Net foreign direct investment
$32.6B
2024
-$5.17B
2024
Net inflows of foreign direct investment
$47.6B
2024
$7.16B
2024
Net outflows of foreign direct investment
$80.2B
2024
$1.99B
2024
Poverty at national poverty lines
14.8%
2021
19%
2023
Gross capital formation, % of GDP
21.5%
2024
25%
2024

GDP per capita map

1x

Data sources: World Bank | Economy & Growth (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06); U.S. Census Bureau (1985–2024, retrieved 2026-02-08).

GeoRank.org/economy/germany/romania | CC BY

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Data sources:

  1. World Bank | Economy & Growth (1960–2024, retrieved 2026-04-06)
  2. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Public Finances in Modern History (1880–1999, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  3. International Monetary Fund (IMF) | Fiscal Monitor (1990–2024, retrieved 2026-02-20)
  4. The Heritage Foundation | Economic Freedom Index (1995–2026, retrieved 2026-03-09)
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The current account balance is the sum of net trade in goods and services, net earnings from cross-border investments, and net transfer payments. It reflects a country's economic transactions with the rest of the world and is a fundamental component of the balance of payments. A surplus indicates that a country exports more than it imports, while a deficit shows the opposite.

Gross National Income (GNI) measures a country's total income. It encompasses income earned by residents, businesses, and foreign sources, defined as employee compensation and investment profits. GNI adds product taxes not included elsewhere and subtracts subsidies. It accounts for income from residents working abroad but excludes earnings from foreigners within the country.

A negative value for Net Foreign Direct Investment indicates a country is a net receiver of investments, as foreign inflows exceed outflows after Balance of Payments adjustments. A positive value indicates a net provider, with outflows exceeding inflows. Inflows are credits (increasing foreign claims on domestic assets), while outflows are debits (increasing domestic assets abroad).

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net inflows) shows how much capital foreign investors bring into a country after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of overseas companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in the reporting country. A positive number means more capital entered the country than was withdrawn, while a negative number means foreign investors pulled out more than they invested.

Foreign direct investment (FDI, net outflows) shows how much capital residents of a country invest abroad after accounting for any funds that flow back in the opposite direction. It represents the net value of domestic companies establishing, expanding, or financing businesses in other countries. A positive number means more capital was invested abroad than withdrawn, while a negative number means residents pulled back more than they invested.

Formerly gross domestic investment, gross capital formation measures the share of a country’s economic output invested in fixed assets, including buildings, machinery, and infrastructure. It indicates how much of the economy is devoted to building productive capacity.