Globalization....bonanza in the days of economic downturn

(I wrote this blog in June 2009; I thought I should publish it now at least)

I attended many lectures on Globalization. On the one hand India's "economic success" has been attributed to the opening of the economy by Manmohan Singh in early 1990s; on the other hand most of the difficulties that the poor and the deprived face is also attributed to the phenomenon of globalization.

Of course the woes are attributed to the propaganda by the left; the proponents argue that the left brings out issues which are not related to Globalization and tries to link them to Globalization (but please read Steiglich). Unless one experiences the effect of globalization he will not appreciate it.

Take this example...I used to take coffee at the international airport, Mumbai, every time I departed from there. My records show that I had paid anywhere from Rs.5 (plastics cup, from dispenser) to Rs.50 (China, from dispenser) last year and before. This time when I travelled, I had to pay Rs.250 for a cup of coffee (Tall glass, from dispenser). Now I don't have the option of getting the cheap Rs.5/- cup of coffee at the International airport. I have to necessarily buy the coffee from one of the fashionable coffee shops in the airport at the price quoted....that means the choice which was available earlier is no more there....Can an average Indian afford coffee at this price? No way. But he is not expected to enter the international airport anyway ! (there are may who go through this airport who cannot afford the coffee). Then, that is what Globalization is about...generation of exclusive club of rich people who will not allow others to enter this club by making entry difficult and not affordable. The majority, therefore, will be left out of the so called economic boom....

You know pretty well that matter can neither be created nor be destroyed....same is the case with wealth.....it is only transferred from one pocket to the other....if one section of the society becomes rich because of Globalization,.....the obvious outcome is the other section becomes as much poor....and the story continues.....