eBays business is to provide a marketplace for exchange. In doing so, it uses labor and capital and creates value.

In return for creating this value, eBay charges fees to the sellers that use its site. The value of these fees enter into GDP.

Items that people sell on eBay do not contribute to current GDP. The cost of finding an interested buyer for those goods, however, does get counted.

Discussion Questions:

1. John has a 2009 Honda Civic. In 2013, he sells it to Mary for $10,000. Is that $10,000 counted in the GDP for 2013?
2. If John is an automobile dealer, does that change your answer to Question 1 at all?