By mid-century (2050), per capita incomes of the majority of developing countries could conceivably have “converged” with those of the advanced (G-7) economies. By the end of the century, there will be nearly 7 billion people in emerging economies with average per capita income conceivably equal to that of the developed countries today. The present population in emerging economies, in particular the middle class, is largely seeking to replicate the same lifestyle that characterizes the advanced economies. Such replication will be unhealthy and place immense pressure on natural resources including land, water and environment. This paper argues that emerging economies should not aim at where the advanced economies are or have been but should leapfrog to sustainable lifestyles that the more enlightened countries are trying to adopt. Such leapfrogging would be in the interests of the developing countries while contributing to global wellbeing.
Pahle India Foundation
Putting India First to Make India First
