When comparing standard of living, GDP PPP is far more important than nominal GDP. By that measure, China’s GDP PPP is around Brazil’s and Mexico’s. That is mid

When comparing standard of living, GDP PPP is far more important than nominal GDP. By that measure, China’s GDP PPP is around Brazil’s and Mexico’s. That is middle income, not poor (very far off from extremely poor). By the way, American GDP per capita has been high because of many fortunate factors in addition to the quality of its people: abundant resources and huge productive landmass relative to population size; mostly intact from WW II; tech, talent, and institution transfer from Europe; etc. It is a great country but also a very lucky country. I start to wonder why there is quite a bit of cynicism (it goes beyond skepticism at this point) by some commenters on China’s progress or likely progress, despite so much tangible evidence?