India -sustainable Econ

02/24/09 From American Dream to India’s Reality: A lesson for survival? By Caroline Tillia Interpretation: Facing major social challenges, India will have to revisit its economic and social strategies to emerge as a healthier nation, in order to maintain or improve its status in the global market. Analysis: Despite India’s recent economical advances, it will be difficult for India to continue to be an active player on the global economy if its escalating social issues are left unresolved. India’s progress towards a more Westernized way of living has been found to be the major reason for its fast growth and mass consumption trends. India’s government, in order to stimulate its economy, has subsidized energy mostly in form of fuel for its population. (Friedman, 2008, p.41) Consequently, this has made it possible for India to adopt a new way of living, or what is also known as the “American Dream”, creating high demand for goods that require vast amounts of naturals resources and energy. Evolving into a consuming culture has made it possible for India to become the fastest growing economy in recent years, and to achieve the position of an active competitor the world market. (Friedman, 2008 30-31) India’s continued population growth and demand for natural resources will result in an increased demand for energy. (Das &Parikh, 2614 p.3) The demand for goods continues to increase. It is suggested that there will be more phones in India this year than in the U.S. (Narlikar, 2007, p.990) Unfortunately, the growth of wealth was also created an equal number of domestic problems for India, as the new found wealth is not being distributed equally. The new high technology driven economy is estimated to employee 1.7 million people out of the 400 Million of the working population(). Unemployment has also become a major problem for India, along with other major social issues, such as depletion of natural resources, pollution, poor infrastructure, lack of adequate water supply, increase in diseases such as HIV/AIDS, unfertile soils due to salinity, and waste accumulation. () India’s economic growth, along with the adoption of poor social and environmental policies has set India on a path towards unchecked population growth, poor policies, volatile infrastructure, environment catastrophe, and eventually an end to its economical growth. (Goffman, 2008, p. 1)

As a result of all challenges facing it today, India has started to implement new conservation policies, but not enough to significantly slow down some of the current trends. The adoption of more distributive and integrative policies focusing on self sufficiency, sustainability, and equal opportunity will help India to achieve greater social responsibility, and ultimately a higher regard within the global community. Evaluation: It can be argued that continued economic growth will improve the quality of life by stimulating innovation and consumption of new goods. Inference: If India continues to adopt more conservational approaches to its economy, India will be able to maintain or improve its position in the global market. Explanation: If India reduces its over consumption trends and integrates more conservational practices within its culture, it will improve its social and environmental struggles. India will secure its place among the current world powers. Self Regulation: My bias is that I strongly believe that adopting better sustainability practices is the most evident way to minimize the magnitude of most of our global issues and consequently improve quality of life on our planet.

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