G8x8 from 2008 to 2017

One major change in composition of the G8x8 from 2008 to 2017 is the new appearance of India↑ to country rank 7, and the fall of Russia↓ from rank 8 off of the chess board. Japan↓ and China↑ switched positions 2 and 3, and the UK↑ surpassed France↓ for rank 5 with France dropping to rank 6. Italy↓ dropped from rank 7 to 8. Only the USA maintained their position at rank 1, and Germany at rank 4.

G8x8 of 2008

There are also some rank changes within countries. Here is a summary of developments for each country:

  1. USA: Texas↑ and New York↓ switched postions 2 and 3; Ohio↑ and New Jersey↓ switched positions 7 and 8.
  2. China: Shandong↓ and Jiangsu↑ switched positions 2 and 3; Hebei↓ dropped from rank 6 to 7; Sichuan↑ newly appeared in the top 8 at rank 6; Hunan↑ appeared at rank 8; Shanghai↓ and Liaoning↓ dropped out of the top eight.
  3. Japan: Osaka↑ rose from rank 4 to 2; Kanagawa↓ dropped from 2 to 4.
  4. Germany: Berlin↑ and Sachsen↓ switched ranks 7 and 8.
  5. UK: No change within the country.
  6. France: In 2016, names and territories were changed, which make the 2008 and 2017 chess boards incompatible.
  7. India: New on the chess board.
  8. Italy: No change within the country.

In 2008, we also compared GDP growth rates between territories. Number one growth territory was Liaoning province of China with a growth rate of 13.1 percent. The fact that this most promising province of 2008 later fell off the chess board convinced us to discontinue the publication of short-lived growth indicators.