Not too surprising, you might think, given the remarkably contrasting tone of the economic news out of the two countries in recent decades.

FORBES: Who's Winning: The Japanese or the Koreans?

Many scoring records have been shattered in recent years but more than two decades have passed since Pakistan's Majid Khan struck a century before lunch against New Zealand in Karachi.

BBC: England shade first day honours against Bangladesh

New drilling technologies have led in recent years to a modest increase in U.S. oil production, and over the past two decades, to a six-fold increase in U.S. conventional natural gas production.

FORBES: Angry Over Oil Price? Demand A Change In Fed Policy

Tougher competition from abroad, weaker unions and a minimum wage that, despite recent increases, is much lower now in real terms than it was two decades ago, have made a difference too.

ECONOMIST: Out of sight, out of mind

Historically, prostate cancer was considered a disease of old age but a recent study spanning two decades shows that it is becoming increasingly prevalent in younger men.

BBC: Prostate cancer drug 'encouraging'

Recent statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau show that in the past two decades, the number of children living with a grandparent has risen 64%.

CNN: Economy sends more kids to grandma's house

In recent months senior local government figures have urged ministers to draw up plans to merge local authorities, nearly two decades after the restructuring which created the current 22 authorities in 1996.

BBC: Local councils in Wales could be cut after review