Economic size has to be a factor, among many others, in a nation's power in absolute. Therefore it matters in that way. We are talking about why economic size matters to one country in time, so let's not use it to compare two countries at a snapshot. That doesn't prove your point.
China running out of laborers ? No kidding. Just send the Mexicans over. We are going to learn Spanish. Hola, my Mexican friends, welcome to China. We have mucho tacos here, all you can eat. Unlike the Americans who treat you like dirt, we,the Chinese, are civilized people. We will treat you just like families.
New York city is more important than Canada ? That's just nonsense. New York is the place created all the toxic,and sh1tty financial gimmicks, paid themselves big bonuses with tax payers' money. I say there is nothing good about that place except maybe a few street hot dog stands and my goofy friend Vinnie. I will take a city like Houston over New York any day. Anyone agrees with me, please give me thumbs up, thumbs down for Sammy.
I grew up in Baytown, went to U of H and will be returning to Houston for work after eight years in Omaha, but I give you thumbs down. Without Yankee bankers, lawyers and philanthropists, Houston would basically be a dried-up boomtown on the way to Galveston. No colleges or universities, locally-owned oil companies or refineries, no culture, no nothing.
The big apple obviously dominates your thoughts and controls your emotions - you'd never find anybody say anything like this about Hamilton, Ontario. What does that tell you?