The total payments to labour, returns to the owner of capital and returns to owners of land can be found through a process called economic accounting. Economic accounting uses quantitative measures to track economic activities such as production, consumption and exchange of goods and services. It is used by governments, businesses and individuals for decision-making purposes.

To find the total payments to labour, one must first calculate the sum of all wages paid out in salaries and benefits. This includes payroll taxes, insurance premiums and other deductions from paychecks. The next step is to add any additional income earned from overtime or bonuses that are not included in regular wages. Finally, any subsidies or tax breaks related to labour should be taken into account so as to arrive at an accurate calculation.