The Rising Influence of Rising Affluence

[oldberkeley]

Re KFC in China but probably OT: Without straying too far afield into the realms of cultural anthropology, politics, and even philosophy, it seems that China is hellbent on embracing the worst of Western society.

It’s obvious that for decades if not centuries their lower and middle classes have needed our best: modern medicines and health care, power, schools, roads, all the infrastructure we take for granted. Perhaps with the good must come the bad: pollution, over-commercialization, obesity, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

All these seemingly inevitable consequences of "greatly leaping forward" (historical reference intended) from what was in many ways a 16th century society directly into the lap of the 21st century certainly fuels the tornadic force of The Global Demographic Tailwind. From CAT to YUM to the incredible opportunities for branded generics, that there's fortunes to be made is undeniable.

Unavoidable, even necessary, but just a little bit sad.