What happens when the whole world is Capitalist?-OR-Capitalism=Communism

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the evolution of global capitalism, highlighting that until recently, only a third of the world participated in the capitalist system, primarily the U.S., Canada, Western Europe, Australia, and Japan. As countries like China and India integrate into this system, they will transition from being low-cost labor exporters to significant consumer markets, potentially doubling the global consumer base. This shift will lead to increased competition for labor, driving wages up and profits down, ultimately resulting in a scenario where capitalism resembles a worker's paradise, blurring the lines between capitalism and communism.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of global capitalism and its historical context
  • Knowledge of economic theories related to labor markets and wage competition
  • Familiarity with the economic development of China and India
  • Awareness of the implications of globalization on labor and production
NEXT STEPS
  • Research the economic impact of globalization on labor markets
  • Explore the historical development of capitalism in China and India
  • Study wage competition dynamics in a globalized economy
  • Investigate the potential rise of global labor unions and their effects on capitalism
USEFUL FOR

Economists, political scientists, sociologists, and anyone interested in the future of global capitalism and its socio-economic implications.

  • #31
wasteofo2 said:
That's a totally ridiculous assertation.
Right now, about 1/3 of the world is so wealthy that nearly all the products made for this 1/3 of the world must be made in another 1/3 of the world that is poorer. This 1/3 of the world (China, India, and South East Asia, which are actually far more than 1/3 of the world's population) are rapidly growing because of the immense amounts of wealth being pumped into them by the currently rich Western World. Why is raising the living standard of the remaining 1/3 anything but inevitable?
Whilst I see merit in your central premise that over time it is likely nations will reach a global equilibrium I question your assertion regarding a harmonisation of wealth within these nations.
Statistics show that in all capitalist countries wealth gravitates to the wealthy even when as in France and Britain there is a 'socialist' government in charge. Taking Britain as an example the current figure is approx. 3% of the population own 97% of the wealth.
Given this huge disparity there will always be an underclass to exploit. With no cheap international labour pool to fish in I would imagine capitalism would simply revert to pre-globalization days (which is a relatively recent phenomena anyway) in which each nation simply exploits it's own underclasses as it does today. Wage competition has not eradicated the need for western capitalist countries to impose minimum wage levels to prevent the worst excesses of exploitation.
The effects of no longer having cheap international labour available will actually be fairly marginable. It is perhaps worth bearing in mind that for most manufactured items labour costs account for less than 10% of total production costs and so given the increase in transport to get the goods to market the bottom line saving to manufacturers from out-sourcing is typically in the low single digits.
 
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  • #32
I honestly don't see "capitalism" ever taking over the whole world. I think the only way you'd be able to do that is if you find a way to constantly, systematically purge out the lower classes.

Hey, at least we'd have the population under control.
 

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