# etymology of TFP (total factor productivity)

In economics, total-factor productivity (TFP), also called multi-factor productivity, is usually measured as the ratio of aggregate output (e.g., GDP) to aggregate inputs.1 Under some simplifications about the production technology, growth in TFP becomes the portion of growth in output not explained by growth in traditionally measured inputs of labour and capital used in production.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Total_factor_productivity

How can factors "not explained by growth in traditionally measured inputs of labour and capital" come to be described as "total"? Etymology, please. It would seem like "not" implies "complements" and "complementary" so CFP sounds better than TFP.

• Why the unimaginative effortless downvoting without some constructive comment? Jan 27 '21 at 0:27

$$TFP=\frac{\text{GDP}}{\text{All Factors}}$$
Also, the passage you cite as reason for your confusion is actually not about total factor productivity but about growth in total factor productivity, i.e. not TFP but $$\Delta$$TFP. Those are two different variables in the same way as GDP and growth rate of GDP are not the same.