Day 12: The expectations of a growing economy 1/4/14

                I am walking down a busy street in Jaipur and the guy in front of me is wearing a beany with a Nike swoosh on the front. At first, I don’t notice anything at all. Then, I see the company name spelled “Nice”. This, I find, is extremely funny. The thing that the person doesn’t notice at all is that the he was totally ripped off. Thinking that he was getting a credible, well-made name brand American item he happened to be getting a homemade rip off.

                Although at first this rip off seemed nothing but comedy, the more I thought about it the more I realized it was an example for India’s economy. Over the next several years, this developing country’s population will be growing much richer-as happens with many people living in developing countries. Those in the middle class and the wealthy class will start to grow in proportion to those in poverty. This is because as the economy grows so will the total “pie” therefore more people will be getting their fair share of the “pie”.

                As this happens, the middle class will look to live a life filled with more luxuries. They will want to buy higher end materials to fill their new houses. This is part of a growing middle class. They want a unique life.

                But right now, those who aren’t yet in the middle class want to feel like they are. So until they are able to make it to the middle class, they will continue to fake it ‘till they make it.