"The value of a thing is in its usefulness, and portability."
The IChing ( oldest book in the world )
The Chinese have been around for 5000 years, I suppose they have learned a thing or two about how the world works in that time.
"Over $100 Trillion in Wealth Will Disappear-Harry Dent"
http://usawatchdog.com/over-100-trillion-in-wealth-will-disappear-harry-dent/
demographics
also globalism:
Just take a look at Detroit