To avoid the problem of double counting while estimating National Income, economists only consider the value of ___ goods and services, completely ignoring the value of intermediate goods used in the production process.

Answer: final

Double counting occurs when the value of raw materials (like wheat) and the final product (like bread) are both added to the GDP, artificially inflating the national income. By strictly counting only 'final' goods—those purchased by the end consumer for direct consumption or investment—the economy accurately captures the total value created without duplicating the costs of intermediate inputs.