Which pair of countries would have the greatest difference in GDP?

Which pair of countries would have the greatest difference in GDP?

• A. Japan and Kenya
• B. United States and Kenya
• C. Japan and Germany
• D. Kenya and Brazil

Answer: (A)

GDP reflects the overall size of an economy, so the greatest difference between two countries comes from pairing a very large economy with a much smaller one. The United States has a nominal GDP on the order of twenty-five to twenty-six trillion dollars, while Kenya’s is about one hundred billion dollars. Subtracting these gives a gap around twenty-five trillion, which is much larger than the gaps for the other pairs (Japan vs. Kenya is around four to five trillion; Japan vs. Germany about one trillion; Kenya vs. Brazil around one to two trillion). So the pair with the largest difference is the United States and Kenya.

GDP reflects the overall size of an economy, so the greatest difference between two countries comes from pairing a very large economy with a much smaller one. The United States has a nominal GDP on the order of twenty-five to twenty-six trillion dollars, while Kenya’s is about one hundred billion dollars. Subtracting these gives a gap around twenty-five trillion, which is much larger than the gaps for the other pairs (Japan vs. Kenya is around four to five trillion; Japan vs. Germany about one trillion; Kenya vs. Brazil around one to two trillion). So the pair with the largest difference is the United States and Kenya.