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> for the first time since WWII the US may have the second biggest economy and be falling further behind.

Since 1890 or so. The US was the largest economy in the world for more than 50 years before ww2 started.

Good point. The gap grew dramatically by the end of WWII, when the US produced 50% of global GDP. The devastation of two massive wars in Europe in 35 years ruined the economies there, and Japan was also greatly damaged. In contrast, the U.S. mainland was mostly untouched.

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