The more things change, the more they stay the same

The Chinese 'spectacular' take off looks less impressive when you remember that the Post Civil War US had the same results.  The only difference?  The US was at the edge of the techno-productivity curve - we invented most of the productivity enhancing innovations that led to our wealth.  By contrast, China is simply slavishing imitating and adopting (often stealing) our intellectual property.  And when you remember that China's GDP is most certainly inflated propaganda, their achievements pale in comparison to Americas.

It also reminds us that trees don't grow up to the sky.  China's imitation economy growth has a limit and shorn of the creativity inherent in a free society, that limit is likely to be reached far sooner than many Chinaficianados expect.  Hat tip Carpe Diem