A projection on when China and India (Asia) will overtake the west as the world's leading economic giants. I may not agree with some of the statistics but the talk is riveting...
http://www.ted.com/talks/hans_rosling_asia_s_rise_how_and_when.html
27th July 2048 is the year Rosling predicts that the growth curves of the West and East would intercept and take on different trajectories, with the latter dominating the former... these are mere predictions and America's productivity, ingenuity, and spirit should never be underestimated. I have always held that the freest society shall in the end be the most prosperous - capitalism and democracy go in tandem. Greenspan dedicates a chapter in his book, "The Age of Turbulene" discuss the "choices that awaits China". The communist leadership in Beijing can maintain its grip on power for only so long. With the advent of technology, the internet, iphones, twitter, facebook, the Chinese society continues to open up to the world despite government censorship and within minutes of any protest outbreaks, i-reporters would send images and video footages of what is happening. So no other Tienanmen square massacre can go uncovered. In addition, more and more Chinese are getting educated and becoming more and more assertive and holding more and more protests in demand for more and more rights (to borrow Friedman's style). If there's no political reform - transition from communism/dictatorship to democracy within a decade or two, there will be huge backlash against the communist party and that will beset China's rapid growth.
What about Africa? When shall we catch up? Did I say catch up? Oh I meant, a sustainable level of economic development.
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