* Based on the work of Angus Deaton and Alan Heston, Arvind argued that the International Monetary Fund’s GDP estimate for China for 2005 was understated by 27 percent. In fact, I used for 2005 the number in the Penn World Table (series China, version 2 in PWT 7; available online since June 2011).
* And between 2005 and 2010, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) had overstated the increase in the relevant PPP prices in China, and hence understated the increase in GDP between these dates by 20 percent. Conceptually, the “mistake” that the IMF made (and continues to make) is to project these PPP prices based on the evolution of the macroeconomic real exchange rate (changes in a country’s nominal exchange rate vis-à-vis the dollar deflated by changes in aggregate prices between that country and the US dollar). But the computation of the relevant price index for the PPP calculations requires the evolution in the internal real exchange rate, measured as the change in domestic prices of tradable goods to non-tradable goods
Combining these two factors, China’s GDP (in PPP dollars) estimate for 2010 for China was greater than that of the IMF by 47 percent.
Their analysis is important, not just because it is carefully done, but also because Professor Feenstra will be leading the effort to produce the next generation of the Penn World Table GDP (PPP-based) estimates.
If they are right, and if I therefore might have underestimated China’s 2010 GDP (PPP dollars) by about 20 to 23 percent, three conclusions follow.
This implies China’s 2010 GDP PPP exceeded $17 trillion and in 2012 will reach $20 trillion.
The Washington Post has coverage
Living standards in the United States, as measured by per capita incomes, remain much higher than in China under any of the GDP estimates. Remember that all of China’s production and income are spread over 1.34 billion people while U.S. GDP is divided among 309 million Americans. Using the official World Bank figures, U.S. per capita income totaled $47,153 in 2010, compared with China’s $7,599. Assuming a Chinese GDP of $17 trillion raises per capita income to about $12,700; that’s roughly a fourth of the U.S. level.
By the end of 2012, China would have PPP GDP per capita of about $14,800. This would be beyond the level of the middle income trap.
The $14800 per capita PPP GDP level would be at the level of Turkey.
Including the shadow economy China per capita income could be at the level of Chile.
Wikipedia list of PPP by country
If you liked this article, please give it a quick review on ycombinator or StumbleUpon. Thanks
Brian Wang is a Futurist Thought Leader and a popular Science blogger with 1 million readers per month. His blog Nextbigfuture.com is ranked #1 Science News Blog. It covers many disruptive technology and trends including Space, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, Medicine, Anti-aging Biotechnology, and Nanotechnology.
Known for identifying cutting edge technologies, he is currently a Co-Founder of a startup and fundraiser for high potential early-stage companies. He is the Head of Research for Allocations for deep technology investments and an Angel Investor at Space Angels.
A frequent speaker at corporations, he has been a TEDx speaker, a Singularity University speaker and guest at numerous interviews for radio and podcasts. He is open to public speaking and advising engagements.