California jumps to world's No. 4 economy. Can that last?
Briefly

In 2024, California's economy was reported as the fourth-largest globally, with a GDP of $4.1 trillion, surpassing Japan. This ranking signifies that California's economy is only behind the U.S., China, and Germany. California boasts the largest workforce in the nation, contributing significantly to its economic output despite discussions around its regulatory environment. The article also highlights challenges, including the implications of a strong U.S. dollar on its economic standing, raising questions about the sustainability of this achievement moving forward.
When California's economy is put on a global scale, only three nations were more productive last year, according to GDP stats from biannual reports from the International Monetary Fund.
California is an economic powerhouse because its 18-million-people-strong workforce isn't just the nation's largest, it produces highly valued products.
Texas is the nation's No. 2 in GDP at $2.7 trillion. My trusty spreadsheet, using California's bragging-rights calculations, found Texas ranks as the world's No. 8 economy, on par with Italy.
Start with the strength of the U.S. dollar. Its rise has been a relative economic norm for over a decade.
Read at The Mercury News
[
|
]