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Marlon,
Thank you for adding a very accurate explanation about the PPP indicator. You see, I don't like to be taken for a ride and I see that happening all the time on goanet.
About your other remarks:
1. I don't think there has been any argument on which is the best place to live.I certainly did not enter into one. But since you brought up the subject, I would like to add that I would not even consider spending the kind of money you talk about in Goa. Last time I was there, in 1998, I was terribly disappointed and utterly frustrated. I did not find great differences compared to 1982.All the old problems remained: daily power cuts (even in the capital), "fluctuating" electric current (which is one of many unique features of India), shortages of water, plenty of mosquitoes and the risk of malaria,etc. I went to Dona Paula beach for a dip in the ocean and all I got was patches of grease all over the body, such was the level of pollution of the water, without a single notice or warning on sight. I distinctly remember wanting to have a freezing beer or milkshake and being told that none was available because there was no power.These are basic things that even if you are a billionaire you cannot buy. So how can you enjoy the ideal lifestyle you mentioned, in such a country? Are maids and cooks and drivers all that matters to you? What about the infrastructure? It is virtually non-existent in Goa. I would like to drive on decent roads (I don't even ask for motorways), have a stable and uninterrupted supply of energy and water and live in a reasonably clean environment. None of these requirements can be had in Goa.I landed in N.Delhi and Bombay and could not believe I was at the int'l airports of the two most important cities of India, such was their miserable appearance, by international standards. Goa and India are no match for a number of countries I have visited, all third world, but where I got value for money and quality, and did not have to worry about basics. In fact, the only thing that pulls me to Goa are my relatives who live there.
2. I wish to assure you that I don't have the slightest intention of moving to the US, inspite of its superpower status. I would never trade Europe for America. I don't get impressed with skyscrapers and aircraft carriers, I hate junk food and prefer to have wine at meals, rather than coke. I prefer a continent where people don't go around with guns, and cowboys don't run for presidents, and cars are not gas-guzzlers. I prefer a continent where there is heritage, monuments, castles, medieval towns, history and tradition. You ask in Europe how many people want to move to America.You wouldn't form even a small army with them. It is very pretentious of you to say that those who settled in Europe made a "terrible mistake".Maybe such an assertion is understandable from people who go from India to the US (perhaps your case). Indians tend to be fascinated with America, for obvious reasons. Europeans don't. I live in Lisbon, Portugal, and have a very good life. I enjoy one intangible thing which you may never have heard about: the pleasures of european living. If you ask some cultured Americans who have lived in Europe about this you may come to learn a couple of things about "relatively backward Europe".
Rui Colla�o
From: "Marlon Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [Goanet] PPP GDP vs Exchange rate GDP Date: Sat, 15 Mar 2003 08:39:24 -0800
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Rui is correct in that the figures provided by Gabe (not a relative) are just PPP values. PPP values are the nominal exchange rate values that have been adjusted for local costs of living.
Many goods and services in India are far cheaper than they are in say Portugal. There is nothing like getting a haircut and head massage for Rs 50 in India. You would get strange looks if you paid your barber $1 for even looking at you in Portugal. There are some other cases however, where PPP based values are not applicable. If you were to purchase a big ticket item like a car, you would find that the prices for such an item would be about the same in both countries. The PPP simply does not work here.
The argument about whether Portugal or Macau or Goa is a better place to live is kind of bogus. If I had a decent amount of money, there is no question in my mind that I would have no reservations about living in Goa for a considerable period of time in a year. I'd be able to afford a couple of maids, have a driver and enjoy most of the so called luxuries available in the west. All in all, I would get a far bigger bang for my buck in Goa, be next to some of the best beaches in the world and have a hell of a time hanging out at the shacks. Perhaps one day when the stockmarket recovers.
The problem of course with living in India is making the money that enables one to enjoy this ideal lifestyle. This is the prime reason why most of us have left India. There are some other reasons too such as career opportunties, graduate education, family etc. Most of us certainly did not leave Goa because of this so called "Indian occupation". To me, the ideal senario is spending several of the more pleasant winter months in Goa and the rest travelling around the world.
If one were to use the financial metric for leaving India, then Portugal would not be a great place to move to. The clear answer would be the US. The US is clearly the worlds premier economic, cultural and military super power in the world today. Did I also mention low taxes? So there you have it folks. All you goans who made the terrible mistake in moving to a relatively backward Europe - redeem yourselves and come to America.
Marlon
---------- Original Message ---------------------------------- From: "Rui Collaco" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
No, it is not the end of the matter.
India's GDP per capita, at market exchange rates, is only around US$ 500. Anyone can check this at www.economist.com/country briefings/factsheet. If you are are using the PPP (purchasing power parities) indicator, you ought to tell us about it.
As for the G7, it has never been the Group of 7 richest, it is the Group of
7 most powerful economies in the world, which are also rich (that's why they
are there, if they were poor they wouldn't be powerful, which is the case
with India).That's why countries like Norway and Switzerland, being richer
than Britain and France (both G7 members) are not members of the group,
because they are small economies.
Rui Colla?
>From: "Lily & Gabe Menezes" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>I hope this is the end of the matter.
>
>G.D.P. per capita countries in mentioned in contention.
>
>India 2,443
>Macau 17,235
>Norway 27,557
>Switzerland 28,421
>U.S. 35,831
>U.K 22,801
>Portugal 15,795.
>
>
>Of the above countries which countries are in the G7 considered the richest
>countries in the world?
>
>Also Macau is richer than Portugal, what does that mean?
>
>Hope this settles the issue once and for all.
>
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