Gross Value Added (GVA) is an economic measure that seeks to accurately measure the productive output of a specific unit within a larger economy. It can refer to the output of a company, a region, a sector or a country as a whole. It is ahead key metric in calculating a nation's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and is used to measure how much a product or service has contributed to a company's fixed costs.

GVA takes into account the gross output of a particular unit – known as the gross production or the total value of goods and services produced in a given period of time – and subtracts any costs associated with intermediate consumption – such as the materials and labor that are necessary for production. By measuring the gross output and then subtracting the costs associated with production, the GVA can provide a more accurate measure of a company’s or economy’s productivity.

Since GVA is a measure of output, it can be used to track the growth of a company, an industry or even a region or nation. A company's GVA can show how efficiently and effectively it has used its inputs and can also be used to determine a firm’s profitability. Similarly, a region’s GVA can provide an indication of the region’s growth and how much money it has gained or lost in a given period of time.

The GVA can also be used to assess the impact of different policies on productivity. Since it is an indicator of the contribution of firms, sectors, regions and countries to Gross Domestic Product, it can be used to compare the relative performance of different units. This can be useful in designing policies to promote economic growth, such as taxation, subsidies or special incentives.

In summary, GVA is an important economic measure that can be used to accurately measure the productive output of a company, region or nation. It can provide an indication of the productivity of a nation’s economy, the performance of a given industry, and the ability of a region to generate revenue. By measuring the outputs and subtracting the costs associated with production, GVA can be used to compare the relative performance of different units and design policies that promote economic growth.