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GDP growth is a questionable metric even for wealth.

For example, if two housewives join the workforce by cleaning each other’s now unattended houses, GDP shows a large increase even though the situation is (arugably) a net loss for everyone involved.

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The difference is they have to pay tax on what they earn, so they are technically contributing to the society.

But where would that money come from? If they both clean the other person's house for $20, where does $5 in taxes come from? (Answer: from the other income earner.). So the "contribution to society" doesn't just magically appear when we make this a commercial transaction.

Yup, they just decided to give away some money to the society (via govt taxes). Not saying this is good, just saying there is a difference.

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