It generally appears that a high standard of living is closely correlated with a high degree of industrialization. Discuss?
One of the aims of any modem government whatever may be its form and colour, is to raise the standard of living of its people. This is one of the forerunners on which the fall and rise of a national party depend. In any modem government which is run by elected representatives, one of the major points to note in the election manifesto is the promise to raise the standard of living. The more underdeveloped a country the more attractive this promise becomes.
What is this standard of living? What is the norm by which it is calculated? Without going into the financial aspects, standards of living can be defined as an economic condition. There is almost full employment, people get not only their needs but also the best in food, clothing, shelter and other comforts. They may be enjoying some items of luxury like the automobile, television, telephone, and radio. Their children may be sent to the best schools, and save something out of their pay packets. Comparatively speaking, economists calculate it in terms of calories of food consumed by the average citizen the type of cloth he purchased, or the quantity of milk consumed. For instance, in the USA, they speak of the standard of living in terms of motor cars owned by individuals.
How is this condition made possible? The answer is very simple. It is by means of industrialization. In primitive societies agriculture has been one of the major industries. Their Gross National Product (GNP) in short was very limited as they produced mainly for their own consumption. What little they could spare they exchanged for the simple comforts of life; thus, in such societies, a barter system was in vogue. But industrialization means much more than that. In industrialized countries, all the natural resources like coal, oil-water power, and minerals are exploited to the full. One industry calls for another industry. Thus, they become supplementary and complementary. With the establishment of one industry other industry comes up. For instance, the building and transport industries are the concomitants of any major industry. Utilizing by-products has become a major industry. In a highly industrialized society industries grow in ever-widening circles. As all these involve the basic laws of production and distribution, the industrialized society becomes very complex. All is not so rosy as painted here, for, in the wake of industrialization very formidable problems of labor, political ideologies, and unrest may crop up.
Now looking at Japan, one of the most modems of the industrialized nations, one can see what strides it has taken within two decades. Beaten beyond redemption in the last war, she has built up her nation magnificently and is one of the few economically strong ones. The Japanese have mastered modem technology unlike many of the Eastern nations. Her currency is strong and her exports show a favorable balance over imports. From a nation of toymakers, she has become almost the foremost nation in electronics, electrical motor, and optical industries as well as shipbuilding. There is very little unemployment and thanks to her sound economy, she is able to stem the waves of communism. Many weak nations have turned to communism after the war hoping that it would solve their economic ills. It must be said to the credit of Japan that her people’s indefatigable industry is her boom.
To conclude, if post-war Japan is any index for an industrious nation’s prosperity, it is safe to conclude that the standard of living is directly linked with industrialization.
