The World is FLAT

I am sure most of you have already heard of this FT/GS Business Book of the year authored by the Pulitzer winner NY Times Journalist Thomas Friedman.

I had an opportunity to hear him on this podcast about the book. He gives the due credit to Nandan nilekani on the name of the book with reference to his discussions with the infy CEO where he heard Nandan say- The world is levelling, thanks to Globalisation. It didn’t take much for this acclaimed journalist to coin most catchy title for this book.

Largely Tom has glorified the role that India and China has to play in 21st century and the challenges facing the young generation of Americans. The author has made the topic of Globalisation a household topic where every parent wants to understand globalisation to know what impacts it has on the future of their kids.

That’s a substantial contribution made to the domain of ‘Globalisation’, though I appreciate the views by economists like Pof Bhagwati who think that Friedman has stretched his arguments little too far. Jagdish Bhagwati’s podcast commentary on the book does a critical review of the book.

I do not have any doubt that Tom will sell more than Jagdish when it comes to book on Globalisation as masses will choose to read a journalist than an economist. However, some of arguments and examples (like the following) of Friedman make it look less of a reality and more of a rhetoric.
What I tell my own girls. When I was growing up, my parents used to say to me, “Tom, finish your dinner. People in China and India are starving.” Today I tell my girls, “Finish your homework. People in China and India are starving for your jobs.”