HERE IS AN ECONOMIC COMPARISON BETWEEN AMERICAN STATE CALIFORNIA AND INDIAN STATE KERALA

This may looks to be an abnormal comparison for some, but it is a reasonable and proper comparison between two countries from two continents with more or less similar resources. There are differences in area and population but not in resources. The Indian state may be above the American state in natural resources.  With about similar resources, let us say,  both get different returns. Here comes the significance of the tools applied to exploit the resources. And that takes America and many other countries far above our country.

Here are the prime data on which we attempt the analysis.

Area of Kerala - 38,863 km²

Area of California -  423,973 km² 

Population of Kerala - 35.33 millions

(2021-22)

Population of California -  39.19 millions (2022)  

GDP of Kerala 2021- $132 billion

GDP of California 2021- $3.4 trillion

GDP pci of Kerala -  $3,100

GDP pci of California - $70,662

Tourism earnings of California 2021

Spending by tourists - $100.2 billion

(Around 8 lakhs crores rupees)

Tax revenue $9.8 billion

Total earnings from tourism in Kerala (Direct and indirect) 2021

Rs  12,285.91 crores 

The salary of people working in tourism sector in California 

$78,114 (Rs  62,49,120) per annum.

 The above figures shows the American output from their land by their people in one of their states. On the other hand we can see the Indian output from our land by our people from one of our states. The GDP per capita indicates average income of the people. And that is 22.8 times higher than the Indian state. Are they cultivating gold, silver and other precious metals in their land? No, their prime produces are dairy, fruits and vegetables. Can these make such a difference? When we talk more and work less and they talk less and work more the difference become possible. While we add politics in every aspect of development they add latest technology in every aspect of development.

It may also be seen that Russia, the largest country in the world with an area of 17.1 million km² and with a population of 14.41 crores (2020) has less than half of the GDP (1.48 lakhs crores) of this American state. It shows that the area of land and the number of people available alone do not matters. It depends on how effectively we apply these together.

At least by looking at other countries we should try to look at ourselves and find where we are. We must know that the people of many countries are enjoying their lives with what is provided by the nature and how best their governments are converting this to the comforts of the people. We Indians are enjoying with the false dreams provided by our successive governments. We must make it certain that unless we get out of the existing political system we cannot get out of the discomfort, poverty and peaceless state of our country.

Leave alone technological earnings. In tourism sector, Kerala is bestowed with abundant natural beauties and we say it is God's own country. California doesn't have such status. Yet California is far ahead in earning from tourism. I repeat, it is excessive politics that destroys our country.

K V George