Correct Option
The correct option is 1 and 3 only.
Explanation
In National Income Accounting, goods are classified into Final Goods and Intermediate Goods. Final goods are those that have crossed the boundary line of production and are ready for use by their final users. These are further divided into Consumption Goods and Capital Goods. Machines are classified as Capital Goods, which are crucial for the concept of Investment (Gross Capital Formation).
Statement-wise Analysis
- Statement 1 is Correct: Machines are durable goods used in the production process. Unlike raw materials (intermediate goods), which are completely transformed or exhausted in a single act of production, machines are not "used up" immediately. They undergo gradual wear and tear (depreciation) over a long period but retain their identity.
- Statement 2 is Incorrect: Goods that are consumed immediately in the production process are termed Intermediate Goods (e.g., electricity, raw cotton). Machines are not consumed immediately; they facilitate production over multiple cycles. Therefore, they are part of the final product of the economy, not intermediate consumption.
- Statement 3 is Correct: Investment is defined as the addition to the physical stock of capital. Since machines increase the productive capacity of a firm and the economy as a whole, their purchase is treated as Investment (specifically, fixed business investment). They enable future production, distinguishing them from consumption goods which satisfy current wants.
Key Takeaway
Capital Goods (like machines) are considered Final Goods because they are not resold or fully exhausted in the current year. They constitute Investment because they add to the capital stock, enhancing the economy's future productive capacity.