Increase trade within Asia
To escape the vicissitude of consumerism in the industrialised West, the Asia countries should increase trading within Asia, to be more independent of external capitalistic tendencies. Other targets Africa and S America, where the standards of living are rising.
The West will take some time to settle down in new, lower lifestyles, without the monopoly of the USD. The manpower exports from the third world countries would decrease, so too the remittances in USD from the workers abroad. The factories have already started relocating in the DC's while the call centres would boom in Asia. Imagine the financial tsunami resulting from possible efforts to relocate the oil wealth now in safe haven in the USA! The 21st century is the harbinger of a New Age [Yug], as prophesised in the ancient books on cosmology.
Our exporters are depending too much on rich consumer societies for earning quick foreign exchange (dismantle the sole global currency the USD). Learn from the bitter experience Japan, S Korea and Taiwan -- putting on all the eggs on to a single basket. Export to the more crowded DCs and LDCs, as our prices are cheaper. Export to Asian countries (four billion people); and build up the business slowly and steadily. Target people, not money -- that is public service in the long run. Patience is a virtue beyond religious practices.
The West thrived due to colonialism. That age is gone. Now it is a global village. Cater to the region first, and offer the left-overs to the rest of the world. It is not a cruel decision -- you can't buy cheaper anywhere else in the world. The trade within the members of the Saarc region is only three percent! Why not 25 per cent, and let the world analyse the implications.
The problem is we have to get out of the habit of being trapped to the American dollar for generations. We have to get out of this vicious cycle. This is one opportunity.
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