Lets say

[KING OF TWC!]

America's economy collapses
hypothetically

who takes over?
china?
russia?
Qatar?
lebanon?

whos going to fill the vacum?

[julmoo]

I think China....their economy is growing rapidly and they need space to put their huge amount of people somewhere.

[Thanatos]

You do understand that the world economy is intrinsically tied together, which means that if we fall, the rest of the world falls down too?

[Dunecat]

You do understand that the world economy is intrinsically tied together, which means that if we fall, the rest of the world falls down too?

I thought with globalisation it was the opposite... We trip and catapult others into relevancy in the process. We sink a bit, others rise feeding off our misfortune. Isn't that how globalisation works?

...

[Farnan]

America's economy collapses
hypothetically

who takes over?
china?
russia?
Qatar?
lebanon?

whos going to fill the vacum?

The Dutchy of Pennsylvania...

In reality if the US economy collapses there will be a domino effect that will hit China and Europe first and then the rest of the world.

[touchmaster]

So if the US economy fails us AMERICANS are booted out and China moves in? Umm I don't think so. If China wants to come in MY country all high and mighty I'm gonna fight; even if our economy is in the hole.

[the_mango55]

So if the US economy fails us AMERICANS are booted out and China moves in? Umm I don't think so. If China wants to come in MY country all high and mighty I'm gonna fight; even if our economy is in the hole.

He's not talking about invading America.

He's talking about taking over the spot of the #1 economy.


Don't know if any country would be able to pass the US for long, even with a complete collapse. China is tied too much to the US interest, if the US collapsed, China would fall too. With the gobal economic collapse, Russia wouldn't find the markets for oil and would stagnate.


America is a heavily industrialized country with a massive population and the greatest higher education system in the world. We wouldn't stay down long.

[Twfan55]

If the economy collapses, the American people should realize that free market capitalism is the way to go and elect someone like Ron Paul to be the president. We wouldn't be gone for #1 for too long if that were to happen.

[Winter]

I would think this current economic crisis might show how important the US economy is to the world economy - we went down and the world took a dive too. Now imagine the torm that would be the entire US economy crashing. No one's climbing out of that pit for a while people.

[George W. Bush]

I would think this current economic crisis might show how important the US economy is to the world economy - we went down and the world took a dive too. Now imagine the torm that would be the entire US economy crashing. No one's climbing out of that pit for a while people.

Unfortunately, that's the truth, isn't it?

[Pious Agnost]

Damn Communists, them and their sad truths "The financial aid given to others by America is like rope given to hang oneself with" I think that's pretty much how it goes

EDIT: As for my answer *Insert generic wet dream*

[Pallantides]

The Great Nordic Empire.

[KING OF TWC!]

how did this come to be?
and why didnt this happen before?

world economy?

[Viking Prince]

If the economy collapses? Not a recession? Not a depression? Really and completely collapses.

No countries on the planet any more. Back to stone knives, flint, and bear skins. Do not even bother keeping a can opener handy -- it will be useless is a matter of days.

btw -- this may be a bit over the top for the current bit of mess that we are all in.

[Pious Agnost]

If the economy collapses? Not a recession? Not a depression? Really and completely collapses.

No countries on the planet any more. Back to stone knives, flint, and bear skins. Do not even bother keeping a can opener handy -- it will be useless is a matter of days.

btw -- this may be a bit over the top for the current bit of mess that we are all in.

It's just over the top, regardless. The worlds technology and devices aren't COMPLETELY reliant on the economy, perhaps we could do a Weimar republic-esque bartering system when sausages become legal tender :hmmm:

[Wiertz]

If the US economy would fall in a big way. We all fall and it would turn the world in a very BIG Depression which will probably last for several decades. The first to recover would be China/India and the EU. The trade between the USA and the EU is actually declining every year(http://trade.ec.europa.eu/doclib/doc...doc_113465.pdf) in terms of their total trade, same goes for China. So if the USA would fall, 20% of all export would vanish. This is a major blow, but it's one the world can recover from.(i think)

China's trade balance:
http://www.uschina.org/public/docume...erformance.pdf

[ivan_the_terrible]

If US goes, China will fall like a pack of cards, no question about it. And so will everyone else, just not as quickly.

[Sargon_of_Akkad]

Can anyone explain just why this would occur? Why would the world not be able to simply start trading with each other, rather than through America?

From what you all say, it seems like everyone would simply just throw their hands up in the air and wail and gnash their teeth, rather than just taking positive steps to continue as normal...

[ivan_the_terrible]

Because America is a HUGE market. Colossal, enormous, you can't overstate its importance. The rest of the world sells ALOT to America, and generally depends on America economically.

If the US economy were to collapse, and their market with it, the hit on everyone else (especially China) would be devastating.

When economies are so interconnected and so dependent on America, no amount of "positive steps to continue as normal" will be enough to hold it back, should it really start going down the crapper (which is still entirely possible).

Why else do you think the world cares about the US stockmarket and other indicators? They have to care.

[Sargon_of_Akkad]

Because America is a HUGE market. Colossal, enormous, you can't overstate its importance. The rest of the world sells ALOT to America, and generally depends on America economically.

If the US economy were to collapse, and their market with it, the hit on everyone else (especially China) would be devastating.

When economies are so interconnected and so dependent on America, no amount of "positive steps to continue as normal" will be enough to hold it back, should it really start going down the crapper (which is still entirely possible).

Why else do you think the world cares about the US stockmarket and other indicators? They have to care.

Alright, calm down, you don't have to stress everything since I'm not putting forward an opinion, I'm merely asking a question.

What I don't understand is why each country wouldn't reassign their trading partnerships, though. Yeah, America buys a lot of stuff, but I'm sure other countries would buy it if they could too.

Prices might have to come down for these goods, but it's not like trade is just going to cease, right?