BBC poll predicts China as the world's largest economy by 2026

London, May 22 (UNI) China is set to become the world's largest economy by 2026 and India will be the fourth, according to a poll conducted on behalf of the BBC.

India is poised to be behind the US and Japan. Only 1 per cent of respondents felt the UK would be the world's leading economy in 20 years.

India's infrastructure problems and scarcity of resources were viewed as putting it at a disadvantageous position against China.

The findings contradict a Goldman Sachs projection of the world's economies which had the US in top place in 2026.

A total of 41 per cent of respondents in the BBC World Poll had China in top spot by 2026, 35 per cent voted for the US, 10 per cent chose Japan, and 6 per cent favoured India.

Participants were asked to nominate what they thought would be the biggest assets in the growth of the Chinese and Indian economies. The large populations of both were seen as being assets, even though some economists have said India may gain a bigger advantage from population size when the effects of China's one-child policy start to have a greater impact. Labour costs were also found to be significant assets for the two nations.

Bureaucracy and corruption were potential problems seen as holding back Chinese economic growth. India was seen as having deeper problems than China, with more than 80 per cent of respondents zeroing in on lack of infrastructure, economic instability, and scarcity of resources as the country's ''top three impediments''.

However India scored for its democratic system and language skills.

The online survey was completed by 9,503 people in 10 countries, in their native language, during April.

UNI XC ARB VP1753