Debating the place of the U.S. in the global economy

There’s nothing quite like a good timeline to put things in historical perspective, and The Economist has posted an interesting one about economic powerhouses.

The bar chart contrasts the rise of Western nations against China and India, but also the rapid recovery in recent decades of China with now India. In other words, it shows just how big China and India’s economies were in the past and suggests their economies are headed toward recapturing their former glories—except now we’re all in a global economy.

The United States? It’s a blip. A big blip, certainly, but still a blip in the larger picture.

Looking to the future, where will the United States be positioned in the global economy? The U.S. must work through mind-boggling debt and social obligations, but still has a culture that values creativity and hard work.

In the long term, are you bullish or bearish on the U.S.?