Note: Current US Dollars.
Source: World Bank Development Indicators.
The global generation of wealth remains highly concentrated. The four largest economies, the United States, Japan, China, and Germany, alone accounted for more than 40% of the world’s GDP. Thus, nine countries (G8 + China) generated more than half the global economic activity. Still, the dynamism is shifting, with China overtaking Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy in 2010. Countries such as Brazil and India have also experienced remarkable growth. This commercial potential and dynamism shape global transactions, flows, and the associated transportation systems.