A Question for worldly DU'ers..

[BlueJazz]

You know, I hear a lot of talk about how little money the Indians are making for jobs (such as IT jobs..Etc) and how even a call center or help center job in India pays about 35-40 bucks a week.

My question is: How do these folks buy anything of any value?
I mean, they can't afford a car and I suppose even a decent computer would be out of reach for them after paying for rent, power, food and other necessities.

I'm ignorant about the "Scene" there....could someone enlighten me?.....

[SOteric]

1. Not every society values what ours does.

They likely spend the money on medical attention, further education, educating their children, helping to uplift the plights of extended family and bridal dowries for some of the younger women and girls.

[BlueJazz]

5. Very True...and I didn't mean to sound like our spending is...

...somehow better than their spending...BUT...
If they can't buy hardly anything that they make/sell than it seems like somewhere down the line "somethings gotta' give"..No? Yes?

I guess it reminds me of the story about Henry Ford, when he was criticized by his associates for paying his workers a great wage....
The associates wanted the workers to make lousy wages and Ford said:
"Yeah, well, who in the hell's gonna' buy the Cars?"

[Nevernose]

2. India has its own car companies

New cars in India start at about $2000. All I know about it...

[TheCentepedeShoes]

3. Don't know anything about

the cost of living in India. I imagine though that young people probably live with their parents longer (maybe even after marrying) so more of the housing and food costs are shared. We like to be in our own places, not camping out at mom and dad's. They also probably depend more on public transportation than we do here. If they have government subsidized health care they don't have doctor bills. I think it has alot to do with their culture and their own expectations.

[spatlese]

4. Cost of Living

Their cost of living is much lower than it is here.. I know someone who worked in a 7-11 in Malaysia and was paid $2 an hour (back in the 90s).. and that's not American dollars, that's local currency which would convert to approximately 50 to 60 cents here! But you can buy a decent meal there for about an American dollar...

so, that probably plays a big role in how they are able to make do with 35 - 40 bucks a week in their society.

*just my two cents*

[JustFiveMoreMinutes]

6. Buy anything of value...

Hmmm.. maybe you've hit on something from Economics 101...

Pay workers low wages who then can only buy your competitors goods.. and soon .....

5 pt bonus.