Data and definitions: Underestimating savings and investment in an open economy

Abstract

This note clarifies definitions and derives from first principles the relationship between investment, domestic and foreign savings in order to show that there is underestimation of investment and foreign savings given conceptual macroeconomic definitions and Indian practice. Indian national accounts report and use gross domestic savings but the measure of capital inflows used with it is the one appropriate for gross national savings. The degree of underestimation is shown using recent data and implications drawn from the errors.