Philippines: 19th Richest Country by 2050

VIRTUAL REALITY
By Tony Lopez

The Philippines is not that poor*

     The statistics and the analyses on poverty incidence in the Philippines are distressing.  They will make you grab the nearest paltik and shoot the politician next to you.

      My contention, however, is that the Philippines is not that poor.  The Pinoy is not that poor.  And  yes, we need the politicians.  Just look at how that priest in Pampanga is running the local government.

      Why do I say the Philippines is not that poor?  Let me cite some data:

      1.  The Philippines is a large country and a large economy.  The population is 92 million, the 12th largest in the world.  Only China, India, the US, Indonesia, Brazil, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Russian Federation, Nigeria, Japan and Mexico are bigger.

      We are the same size as Vietnam.  We are bigger than Germany 82.7 million, Thailand 65.3 million, France 60.9 million, the UK 60 million, Italy 58.2 million, Korea 48 million, Spain 43.6 million and Argentina 39.5 million.

      The Philippine gross domestic product in purchasing power parity is worth $327 billion, according to the World Bank 2008 World Development Report and $319 billion, according to the IMF World Economic Outlook October 2008.  That makes it the 36th largest economy in the world, out of 200 countries.  The Philippines is the ninth largest economy in Asia.
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