China's economy has grown at an average of 9-10% annually for 30 years, allowing it to become the second largest economy in the world behind only the United States. If China maintains 7% growth, its economy will double in size within a decade and surpass the current size of the American economy, making China the world's largest economy, possibly as early as 2014 according to IMF projections. Over the next 50 years, China is expected to undergo further dramatic shifts that will impact not only its domestic situation but also the global economy.