The Changing Fortunes of India and China's Middle Class

India and China, the world's most populous nations, have taken different paths in the last four decades. In 1980, neither had a significant number of people in the global middle class. Today, China has a large portion of its population in this group, but India has not seen the same growth. This is surprising because both countries opened their economies around the same time. China became known for manufacturing, while India became known for services. Yet, the results for their people are not the same. The World Inequality Report shows this difference. It's a puzzle because both countries have grown economically. But why are their middle classes so different?One reason could be how they grew. China's growth was fast and focused on manufacturing. India's growth was slower and focused on services. This may have led to different outcomes for their people. Another reason could be inequality. China may have spread wealth more evenly. India may have more inequality, leaving many people poor. It's important to think critically about this. Both countries have grown, but not all people have benefited equally. This shows that economic growth alone is not enough. It must be fair and inclusive.