China unseats Japan as world’s second largest economy
While still one of the poorest per capita nations. How is this possible?
It took three decades of Deng Xiaoping’s political reform for People’s Republic of China to become world’s second largest economy. Definitely a remarkable achievement. Although I think the Chinese can do better (when I say Chinese here, I mean Chinese nationals, expats do not count).
By comparison the GDP per capita in China is $3,600. Japan, who China recently surpassed on IMF’s GDP rankings, the former number two, has a GDP per capita of $37,800. The United States (the undisputed number one) has a GDP per capita of $42,420 (according to Associated Press).
China: you’re not really rich, until all of your citizens are rich. I think that should be your collective aim for the future.
Wikipedia’s List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita 2009 (a little out of date, but you get the idea)