China would still have a vast underdeveloped countryside. Assuming 6% Chinese GDP growth and only 2% US growth after 2030, China would not equal the US in terms of per capita income – a better measure of an economy’s sophistication – until sometime near the second half of the century.
但即便中国的GDP能在2020年代赶上美国，这两大经济体在内部经济构成方面依然不尽相同。中国依然拥有落后的广大农村地区。即便在2030年后中国的GDP年增长率达到了6%而美国只有2%，中国的人均收入也无法与美国并驾齐驱——而这一指标也能更好地反映经济的成熟程度——直到21世纪下半叶才会有所转变。