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Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

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21–30 of 141 posts

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#21

Why does total GDP matter so much? China has over a billion people. A much more accurate metric is GDP or even PPP GDP per capita. Only when China has 3x larger economy than US economy will it be of the same size per capita to the U.S.

The USA is only number 10 by that measure, so nobody would care if China got to number 9. Go to Singapore or Quatar to find the richest average people, not the USA.

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#24
post #17

This is a ranking about PPP. There are about five Chinese persons for every American. The sum of their income will keep getting larger and so will their economy. GDP and economic output don't automatically relate to how well people live but they do relate to the influence a country has over the world. If we care about how happy people are in their country then maybe we should look at http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.or…

That's a really clever site, seems like an elaborate way to say "It depends" when the question is "What is the best country in the world".

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#25

Why does total GDP matter so much? China has over a billion people. A much more accurate metric is GDP or even PPP GDP per capita. Only when China has 3x larger economy than US economy will it be of the same size per capita to the U.S.

I like your name. I imagine, you would have signed up as legitquestion, but legitquestion was too long, correct? -justquest :)

Yes :) I signed up just to ask this one question!

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#26
post #2

> These calculations are based on a well-established and widely used economic measure known as purchasing-power parity (or PPP), which measures the actual output as opposed to fluctuations in exchange rates. So a Starbucks venti Frappucino served in Beijing counts the same as a venti Frappucino served in Minneapolis, regardless of what happens to be going on among foreign-exchange traders. > PPP is the real way of co…

Frappuccinos are more expensive in Beijing than Seattle (I know, I have a habit...). Actually, many things in China are more expensive than in the states: if you want the "lower cost of living", you have to be willing to endure the "lower standard of living" that is possible in China without as much stigma as in the US. If you want a nice apartment, nice safe food, decent education for your kids, a car, medical care,…

While that may be true, I still think parents ELI5 explanation of the problem with PPP in this scenario is very good.

When we are looking at the largest economy in the world, we are looking at world wide numbers and as an American or European most of China is going to feel very cheap.

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#27
post #22

Whether it is or not doesn't really matter. The Chinese economy has been doubling every 10 years or so since 1980. So if it isn't the world's #1 now, it very soon will be.

The same was said about Japan when it was on the up.

China is 1 billion plus people. They have a large role to play in the world economy unless they do something really stupid or terrible. They were the largest economy in the world throughout much of history, if I recall correctly.

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#28
post #2

> These calculations are based on a well-established and widely used economic measure known as purchasing-power parity (or PPP), which measures the actual output as opposed to fluctuations in exchange rates. So a Starbucks venti Frappucino served in Beijing counts the same as a venti Frappucino served in Minneapolis, regardless of what happens to be going on among foreign-exchange traders. > PPP is the real way of co…

Substitute Frappuccino for a burger and it is the Big Mac index. http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

In my experience this is a terrible metric. The demographics that McDonalds is marketed in different countries varies enormously. I find in Western countries it is seen as unglamorous, cheap and quick food. Whereas when I was in India, for example, it is much more expensive than cheap food you can buy there, and therefore is seen much more as a nice place to go with your family (or girlfriends/boyfriend), and it tends to be middle class people who go there.

I was trying to think of a good alternative product for this index, but I really couldn't think of any single product that is marketed at exactly the same demographic in each country, as well as having comparable market penetration, and being desired by people to the same degree.

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#29
post #17

This is a ranking about PPP. There are about five Chinese persons for every American. The sum of their income will keep getting larger and so will their economy. GDP and economic output don't automatically relate to how well people live but they do relate to the influence a country has over the world. If we care about how happy people are in their country then maybe we should look at http://www.oecdbetterlifeindex.or…

If housing in the UK is a 6/10 I don't want to know how are 4/10s or worse.

Re: Chinese economy overtakes the U.S.’s to become the largest

#30

For comparison, using the more traditional measure of an economy's size, nominal GDP, the US economy is about 2x the size of China's. [1] [1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_countries_by_GDP_(nomi...

Having moved between developing and developed countries recently, I was reminded of what GDP in PPP misses. It's even cruder than how inflation is measured through CPI or RPI. In one country it might be cheaper to get services that depend on a lot of labour, like restaurant meals, cleaning and tailoring, but in another country you can walk or take public transport to the restaurant or tailor without the fear of being the victim of a crime. You can buy ketchup for cheaper, but it is not necessarily as safe or hygienic, it won't have seals under the cap in the store, you won't have as many options to choose from, etc. I think in a globalised world and especially when you look at commodidity prices, PPP is good to measure if people have 'enough' to live on in a particular location but for comparison between countries it's pretty meaningless.
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