In this post, we shall examine two macro statistics, GDP and Population.
The Global GDP is USD 41trn while Singapore’s GDP is USD 120bn i.e. we make up 0.29% of global GDP, which is quite insignificant. So actually, calling Singapore a little red dot is already a compliment. So don’t be so yah-yah okay?
US, the world’s biggest economy contributes to roughly 25% of global GDP, while Europe makes up about 20%. Japan is No.3 at 11% and China is slightly less than 5%.
However, in terms of PPP which stands for purchasing power parity, a chim term which I shall explain later, China is already No.2 at 19% of global GDP, Japan at No.3 at 9% and India is No.4 at 8%. Developing countries or the new buzz word: Emerging Countries now make up close to 50% of global GDP in terms of PPP and growing fast! Maybe Singapore should call herself an emerging country, bcos that’s the in-thing now siah!
PPP tries to measure GDP by taking away the effects of exchange rate in goods and services. In layman terms, one Big Mac in US will have the same impact on GDP as one Big Mac in China. Whereas, in the conventional method of measuring GDP, the Big Mac in US will impact GDP 3-4x more than the same Big Mac in China. So PPP actually gives a better picture of how world GDP is structured.
So that’s global GDP, btw it’s growing at roughly 4% (for the past 5yrs), developed nations are growing at 2% and Asia at 7%. Singapore has been growing at 8-10% for the past 40 yrs and we might do 11% this year. This is actually quite amazing, so maybe we can afford to be a bit yah-yah. But it always pays to be humble though. Who likes a yah-yah person even when he is in a position to be yah-yah?
The other macro statistic that you should know by hard in order to call yourself a seasoned investor is population statistic.
Well if you have no clue, better memorize this list now!
Global population 6.4bn pple
China 1.3bn pple
India 1bn pple
Europe 900mn pple (this is tricky, bcos depends on how you define Europe, this no. will change)
US 300mn pple
Indonesia 220mn pple
Brazil 180mn pple
Russia 140mn pple
Japan 130mn pple
Singapore 4mn pple
Needless to say, demographics drive long-term trends. Why did the global economy grow so strongly in the past 100 yrs? A large part of it is probably bcos the human population exploded. In 1900, there was only 1.6bn pple in the world but now we have 6.4bn pple. That’s roughly 3% annualized growth rate. And we all heard about the baby boomers. It was this generation that brought about a few big trends in the past few decades, like the rise of automobiles, the mutual fund (i.e. unit trust) boom in the US etc. So bottomline, population matters! Why do you think our Gahmen keeps talking about not enough babies? Now they know relying on Singaporean babies is not enough, so can only import more pple here.
Anyways, going forward, the world population is expected to grow only 1.1% per year and will peak out in 2050 when the global population reaches 10bn pple. Will the global GDP still grow at 4%? And more importantly, will equities give you 10% return per yr? Food for thought huh.
Interestingly, here is a forecast of top 10 populous nations in 2050
India 1.6bn pple
China 1.4bn pple
Europe 825mn pple
US 395mn pple
Pakistan 305mn pple
Indonesia 285mn pple
Nigeria 258mn pple
Brazil 253mn pple
Bangladesh 243mn pple
This is why the whole world is so bullish on China and India. Though China is now in the limelight with strong GDP growth and a large population base, India is the dark horse (no pun intended!) that will win the race. India is the fastest growing population on Earth and will become the most populous country in time.
It is fortunate that Singapore has links to both countries and can definitely find a niche to play in the world theatre of tomorrow, be it integrated resorts, a private banking hub or something else.
For those interested to play the India story, I recommend Singtel (btw this is probably my first stock recommendation on this blog, so don’t bet your house on it). Singtel’s stake in Bharti will be worth more than Singtel itself in time to come. So buy it now while it’s cheap (PER 15x).
See also Secular Trends
The Global GDP is USD 41trn while Singapore’s GDP is USD 120bn i.e. we make up 0.29% of global GDP, which is quite insignificant. So actually, calling Singapore a little red dot is already a compliment. So don’t be so yah-yah okay?
US, the world’s biggest economy contributes to roughly 25% of global GDP, while Europe makes up about 20%. Japan is No.3 at 11% and China is slightly less than 5%.
However, in terms of PPP which stands for purchasing power parity, a chim term which I shall explain later, China is already No.2 at 19% of global GDP, Japan at No.3 at 9% and India is No.4 at 8%. Developing countries or the new buzz word: Emerging Countries now make up close to 50% of global GDP in terms of PPP and growing fast! Maybe Singapore should call herself an emerging country, bcos that’s the in-thing now siah!
PPP tries to measure GDP by taking away the effects of exchange rate in goods and services. In layman terms, one Big Mac in US will have the same impact on GDP as one Big Mac in China. Whereas, in the conventional method of measuring GDP, the Big Mac in US will impact GDP 3-4x more than the same Big Mac in China. So PPP actually gives a better picture of how world GDP is structured.
So that’s global GDP, btw it’s growing at roughly 4% (for the past 5yrs), developed nations are growing at 2% and Asia at 7%. Singapore has been growing at 8-10% for the past 40 yrs and we might do 11% this year. This is actually quite amazing, so maybe we can afford to be a bit yah-yah. But it always pays to be humble though. Who likes a yah-yah person even when he is in a position to be yah-yah?
The other macro statistic that you should know by hard in order to call yourself a seasoned investor is population statistic.
Well if you have no clue, better memorize this list now!
Global population 6.4bn pple
China 1.3bn pple
India 1bn pple
Europe 900mn pple (this is tricky, bcos depends on how you define Europe, this no. will change)
US 300mn pple
Indonesia 220mn pple
Brazil 180mn pple
Russia 140mn pple
Japan 130mn pple
Singapore 4mn pple
Needless to say, demographics drive long-term trends. Why did the global economy grow so strongly in the past 100 yrs? A large part of it is probably bcos the human population exploded. In 1900, there was only 1.6bn pple in the world but now we have 6.4bn pple. That’s roughly 3% annualized growth rate. And we all heard about the baby boomers. It was this generation that brought about a few big trends in the past few decades, like the rise of automobiles, the mutual fund (i.e. unit trust) boom in the US etc. So bottomline, population matters! Why do you think our Gahmen keeps talking about not enough babies? Now they know relying on Singaporean babies is not enough, so can only import more pple here.
Anyways, going forward, the world population is expected to grow only 1.1% per year and will peak out in 2050 when the global population reaches 10bn pple. Will the global GDP still grow at 4%? And more importantly, will equities give you 10% return per yr? Food for thought huh.
Interestingly, here is a forecast of top 10 populous nations in 2050
India 1.6bn pple
China 1.4bn pple
Europe 825mn pple
US 395mn pple
Pakistan 305mn pple
Indonesia 285mn pple
Nigeria 258mn pple
Brazil 253mn pple
Bangladesh 243mn pple
This is why the whole world is so bullish on China and India. Though China is now in the limelight with strong GDP growth and a large population base, India is the dark horse (no pun intended!) that will win the race. India is the fastest growing population on Earth and will become the most populous country in time.
It is fortunate that Singapore has links to both countries and can definitely find a niche to play in the world theatre of tomorrow, be it integrated resorts, a private banking hub or something else.
For those interested to play the India story, I recommend Singtel (btw this is probably my first stock recommendation on this blog, so don’t bet your house on it). Singtel’s stake in Bharti will be worth more than Singtel itself in time to come. So buy it now while it’s cheap (PER 15x).
See also Secular Trends
Hi there!
ReplyDeleteOne question, what's going to happen to the population of Russia in 2050? Surely so many people can't possibly disappear!
Another thing, you mentioned that "Big Mac in US will impact GDP 3-4x more than the same Big Mac in China". Is the difference due to diffrence in cost of living?inflation even?
Russia's population of 140mn will decline to 100mn plus by 2050. This is partly bcos they drink too much vodka and die very young. The life expectancy for Russian male is 50 something.
ReplyDeleteSo with Pakistan growing its population to over 200mn, Russia wont stand a chance to be in the top 10. Same goes for Japan.
For the Big Mac, it's due to the exchange rate actually which is influence by things you mentioned like cost of living and inflation.
Now 1USD can buy 8 Chinese Rmb but 1 Big Mac probably cost 3USD in US but same Big Mac cost only 10 Rmb.
By right the Big Mac should cost 8x3=24 Rmb bcos it's the same Big Mac. But it's not which imply that either the Big Mac in US is too ex or the Big Mac in China is too cheap.
So in order to try to measure GDP by taking away these effects. Economists come up with the PPP thingy. So that the 2 Big Mac have the same impact on GDP (i.e. 24 Rmb). And when you do this, China is the 2nd largest GDP country in the world.
cool! just can't to terms that Russian will die off so easily. What a waste of space!
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