South Asia An Economic & Social Examination GCU 122 World Geography Easter Hemisphere

1: Indian Economics With a GDP growth rate of 9.4% in , the economy is among the fastest growing in the world With a GDP growth rate of 9.4% in , the economy is among the fastest growing in the world India has the world’s third largest GDP at over 4 trillion (US). India has the world’s third largest GDP at over 4 trillion (US). India has the second largest labor force in the world, at about 516 million (60% in agriculture) India has the second largest labor force in the world, at about 516 million (60% in agriculture) India exported over 140 billion in goods to the US in 2007 and imported over 214 billion is goods. India exported over 140 billion in goods to the US in 2007 and imported over 214 billion is goods.

2: Indian Economics

3: Indian Economics Tech industries are enormous in India Tech industries are enormous in India Many companies outsource IT support to Indian firms. Many companies outsource IT support to Indian firms. India’s software exports have been growing by over 50% each year India’s software exports have been growing by over 50% each year

4: Indian Economics Ship BuildingPharmaceuticals Telecommunication Farming

5: Smart Growth?

6: Indian Economics TOURISM

7: Pakistani Economy One of the fastest growing economies in Asia (7% a year for four years) One of the fastest growing economies in Asia (7% a year for four years) Like India, Pakistan also builds ships, sells software and is an emerging player in telecommunications Like India, Pakistan also builds ships, sells software and is an emerging player in telecommunications

8: Pakistani Economy Agriculture Agriculture Pakistan is one of the world's largest producers and suppliers of the following according to the 2005 Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations and FAOSTAT given here with ranking: Pakistan is one of the world's largest producers and suppliers of the following according to the 2005 Food and Agriculture Organization of The United Nations and FAOSTAT given here with ranking:Food and Agriculture Organization FAOSTATFood and Agriculture Organization FAOSTAT Chickpea (2nd) Chickpea (2nd) Chickpea Apricot (4th) Apricot (4th) Apricot Cotton (4th) Cotton (4th) Cotton Sugarcane (4th) Sugarcane (4th) Sugarcane Milk (5th) Milk (5th) Milk Onion (5th) Onion (5th) Onion Date Palm (6th) Date Palm (6th) Date Palm Date Palm Mango (7th) Mango (7th) Mango Tangerines, mandarin orange, (8th) Tangerines, mandarin orange, (8th) Tangerinesmandarin orange Tangerinesmandarin orange Rice (8th) Rice (8th) Rice Wheat (9th) Wheat (9th) Wheat Oranges (10th) Oranges (10th) Oranges

9: Bangladeshi Economy One of the lowest per capita income nations in the world ($2300 annual). One of the lowest per capita income nations in the world ($2300 annual). One of the largest rice exporters in global market. One of the largest rice exporters in global market.

10: Southern Islands Economy Cinnamon Rubber Tea Tourism

11: Economic Side-Effects Poorer countries are sometimes at disadvantage: While it is true that globalization encourages free trade among countries on an international level, there are also negative consequences because some countries try to save their national markets. The main export of poorer countries is usually agricultural goods. It is difficult for these countries to compete with stronger countries that subsidize their own farmers. Because the farmers in the poorer countries cannot compete, they are forced to sell their crops at much lower price than what the market is paying. Poorer countries are sometimes at disadvantage: While it is true that globalization encourages free trade among countries on an international level, there are also negative consequences because some countries try to save their national markets. The main export of poorer countries is usually agricultural goods. It is difficult for these countries to compete with stronger countries that subsidize their own farmers. Because the farmers in the poorer countries cannot compete, they are forced to sell their crops at much lower price than what the market is paying. Exploitation of foreign impoverished workers: The deterioration of protections for weaker nations by stronger industrialized powers has resulted in the exploitation of the people in those nations to become cheap labor. Due to the lack of protections, companies from powerful industrialized nations are able to offer workers enough salary to entice them to endure extremely long hours and unsafe working conditions. The abundance of cheap labor is giving the countries in power incentive not to rectify the inequality between nations. If these nations developed into industrialized nations, the army of cheap labor would slowly disappear alongside development. With the world in this current state, it is impossible for the exploited workers to escape poverty. It is true that the workers are free to leave their jobs, but in many poorer countries, this would mean starvation for the worker, and possible even his/her family. Exploitation of foreign impoverished workers: The deterioration of protections for weaker nations by stronger industrialized powers has resulted in the exploitation of the people in those nations to become cheap labor. Due to the lack of protections, companies from powerful industrialized nations are able to offer workers enough salary to entice them to endure extremely long hours and unsafe working conditions. The abundance of cheap labor is giving the countries in power incentive not to rectify the inequality between nations. If these nations developed into industrialized nations, the army of cheap labor would slowly disappear alongside development. With the world in this current state, it is impossible for the exploited workers to escape poverty. It is true that the workers are free to leave their jobs, but in many poorer countries, this would mean starvation for the worker, and possible even his/her family. The shift to service work: The low cost of offshore workers have enticed corporations to move production to foreign countries. The laid off unskilled workers are forced into the service sector where wages and benefits are low, but turnover is high. This has contributed to the widening economic gap between skilled and unskilled workers. The loss of these jobs has also contributed greatly to the slow decline of the middle class which is a major factor in the increasing economic inequality in the United States. Families that were once part of the middle class are forced into lower positions by massive layoffs and outsourcing to another country. This also means that people in the lower class have a much harder time climbing out of poverty because of the absence of the middle class as a stepping stone. The shift to service work: The low cost of offshore workers have enticed corporations to move production to foreign countries. The laid off unskilled workers are forced into the service sector where wages and benefits are low, but turnover is high. This has contributed to the widening economic gap between skilled and unskilled workers. The loss of these jobs has also contributed greatly to the slow decline of the middle class which is a major factor in the increasing economic inequality in the United States. Families that were once part of the middle class are forced into lower positions by massive layoffs and outsourcing to another country. This also means that people in the lower class have a much harder time climbing out of poverty because of the absence of the middle class as a stepping stone. Weak labor unions: The surplus in cheap labor coupled with an ever growing number of companies in transition has caused a weakening of labor unions in the United States. Unions lose their effectiveness when their membership begins to decline. As a result unions hold less power over corporations that are able to easily replace workers, often for lower wages, and have the option to not offer unionized jobs anymore. Weak labor unions: The surplus in cheap labor coupled with an ever growing number of companies in transition has caused a weakening of labor unions in the United States. Unions lose their effectiveness when their membership begins to decline. As a result unions hold less power over corporations that are able to easily replace workers, often for lower wages, and have the option to not offer unionized jobs anymore.

12: Economic Side-Effects Pollution over India & Bangladesh Global Homogeneity Uneven distribution of benefits

Social Examination of South Asia

Kolkata has the largest “Red Light District” in South Asia, where prostitution and HIV is on the rise. Kolkata has the largest “Red Light District” in South Asia, where prostitution and HIV is on the rise. Great disparities between classes and castes will continue to magnify, as industrialization and globalization increases. Great disparities between classes and castes will continue to magnify, as industrialization and globalization increases. Cultural homogenization, as the result of globalization, will continue to challenge South Asian nations. Cultural homogenization, as the result of globalization, will continue to challenge South Asian nations.

Social Examination of South Asia

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