What year is it in China?

Shanghai 1987-2013

Here’s a little exercise in comparative and historical economics.

Using the USA’s history of economic development as the baseline, as expressed in per capita GDP, what year is it in various countries, as measured by gross domestic product (at purchasing power parity) per capita?

(Naturally using GDP as a measure of economic growth and well-being comes with all sorts of caveats).

US historical per capita GDP estimates are from Measuring Worth.

Per capita GDP (PPP) estimates are from the International Monetary Fund.

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1790:

Madagascar

Mozambique

Eritrea

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1860:

Tajikistan

Micronesia

Kenya

Papua New Guinea

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1900:

India

Vietnam

Angola

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1925:

Ukraine

Jamaica

El Salvador

Morocco

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1950:

China

Mexico

Brazil

Colombia

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 1975:

Russia

Poland

Greece

Turkey

Countries in which per capita GDP (PPP) is now similar to US per capita GDP in 2000:

Germany

Denmark

Austria

Canada

Some points of historical economic reference:

JM Keynes published “Economic Possibilities for Our Grandchildren” in 1929.

JK Galbraith published The Affluent Society in 1958.