There has been a huge shift in the global economy over the past 60 years. The US is still one of the biggest economic forces around the globe, but its influence on the world stage has waned as emerging economies have developed. The US accounted for as much of 40% of the world’s gross domestic production (GDP) at the start of the 1960s but that figure is closer to 15% today, and its share of international trade has fallen to about 10%. Meanwhile, countries like China have seen their share of global GDP rise from just 2.3% in 1980 to around 18% today, and it is now the largest country in terms of international trade ... (full story)