Who's bigger?

More countries are saying that China is world’s leading economic power

AMERICA has been the world’s leading economic power since 1871. It has contributed some 30% on average to world GDP since 1960 and made up 22% of the cake in 2011 (at market exchange rates). China meanwhile, contributes just 10%, but has seen its share of world GDP rise meteorically, from just 1.8% in 1991. The perception in some countries that America is no longer the world’s pre-eminent economy is therefore somewhat premature. As the chart shows, such perceptions vary enormously across the world according to a new poll carried out in 21 countries by the Pew Research Centre. There has been an increasing swing towards China; in 2008 just one country polled thought China more economically powerful than America, now 11 do. The residents of the two countries at the heart of the discussion seem to have a rather self-deprecating view of themselves: on balance, Americans believe China to be more economically powerful, whereas the Chinese think America is. Perceptions aside, on current trends, China will surpass America somewhere around 2018 according to our interactive chart.

Readers’ comments

KACEY1 Jun 14th 2012 18:31 GMT

I hate to say, America is declining and going down faster and faster, no matter Obama get elected or Romney get elected, let me explain:

Four years ago, I liked Obama so much; I donated money and time to his election. Once he got elected, most of his promises are conveniently forgotten. Now, I believe Obama is a bullshxt artist.

On the other and, Romney is the CEO of Bain private equity fund, he brought many small business, laid people off to increase the profit, when stock price went up, he pockets the profit. When the businesses lose money, he got government loan, pocketed the money. Many of his companies went bankrupt.

Romney said he made his companies more efficient; Romney admitted he has Swiss accounts and money stashed in Caribbean Islands. But, to whose benefit? How can someone even defend that kind of behavior?

The truth is Romney played some money games, smoking mirror games, got the money from working stiffs or government. I am not sure this kind of money game will be beneficial to America?

Can you believe Obama is planning to raise more than one billion dollar, which is 1,000,000,000+ dollars to fight in 4 or 5 swing states, try to get elected? Romney is not that much different.

I remember John F Kennedy said: “ask what you can do for the country, not what the country can do for you’. I remember what Abraham Lincoln said and George Washington said. Now, it makes me sick when I hear Obama or Romney

Now, it is what everyone can do for me. Is this country going anywhere with that kind of mindset?