Capitalism, Thy Name is Indian

Freed from the shackles of socialism, a study has found, Indians are more inclined than ever before to support free markets and globalisation.

Freed from the shackles of socialism, the Pew Institute has found, Indians are more inclined than ever before to support free markets and globalisation. This isn’t as surprising as the fact that Indians seem to want these freedoms more than any other major industrialised country whose citizens were polled—only Kenya and the Palestinian territory had a higher percentage agreeing (the list included the US, Brazil, Russia, and China). Of the 2,038 respondents in India who were asked if they ‘completely agree, mostly agree, mostly disagree or completely disagree’ with statements presented, most people claimed to be ‘better off in a free market economy, even though some people are rich and some are poor’; 81 per cent of Indians nodded vigorously. In 2002, only 62 per cent had agreed with the assertion. Asked if they thought growing business/trade ties between countries was a good thing, a hefty 96 per cent agreed.

free marketglobalisationPew Institute