This publication presents information using an indicator approach, focusing on cross-country comparisons; the aim being to make the accounts more accessible and informative, whilst, at the same time, taking the opportunity to present the conceptual underpinning of, and comparability issues inherent in, each of the indicators presented.

What was the value of the goods and services produced within OECD countries? How much income was earned by residents of a country? How much income was received by households? Answers to these questions and more can be found in this edition of National Accounts at a Glance. This publication presents the wealth of information that is available within the integrated accounting framework of the System of National Accounts (SNA). National accounts have a key role in understanding the workings of the economy by providing information on the economic interactions taking place between different sectors of the economy (households, corporations, government, non-profit institutions, and the rest of the world) allowing for macroeconomic analysis and decision taking.

Each indicator is preceded by a short text that opens with an explanation in general terms of what is measured and why. This is followed by a more detailed description of the underlying concept (Definition) consistent with the 1993 System of National Accounts (SNA). The final paragraph (Comparability) highlights those areas where some caution may be needed when comparing performance across countries or over time. Some issues relating to comparability, or the care that should be taken when making comparisons, cut across a number of subject areas. Rather than refer to these each time they arise these generic cases are described below.