Quote Originally Posted by no_brains_no_worries View Post
(We really need AI back)

But also, which nation would have the strength, wealth, and power to take America's place as the front runner of nations (short term/long term). Which would be the deciding factors in this? Military might or trade? Could any other nation gain the resources to fill the role of super consumer that had been the American people?
China would definitely take over but only due to military might. Like Atmosfear said, they are further along than India is. However, trade may not matter in the short term seeing as how the disappearance of the US would definitely freeze international trade as already mentioned. In the long term, China could come out of the stump and take over if they were able to develop their domestic market or make use of multiple consumer markets that could equal the US or at least come close to our consumer market which I doubt would happen.