The new global middle class and changing diets
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Question
Define the global middle class.
Answer
Households with enough **disposable income** to spend beyond essentials (often roughly $11-110 a day).
Question
Define disposable income.
Answer
Money left after paying for essentials, which can be spent or saved.
Question
What is the dietary (nutrition) shift?
Answer
As incomes rise, diets move from starchy staples to more **meat, dairy, sugar and processed food**.
Question
Give two reasons diets shift as incomes rise.
Answer
Higher disposable income and urbanisation (also globalisation/advertising and busier lifestyles).
Question
Why does a richer diet raise water use?
Answer
Meat and dairy are **very water-intensive** - e.g. about **15,000 L per kg of beef** vs ~1,500 L per kg of wheat.
Question
Name three resources strained by richer diets.
Answer
**Water**, **land** and **energy** (plus higher greenhouse-gas emissions).
Question
China example for diet shift?
Answer
As its middle class grew, **meat consumption per person roughly doubled**; China now eats about a quarter of the world's meat.
Question
What is Engel's law (income vs food share)?
Answer
As income rises, the **share** of income spent on food **falls** (about 48% in low income to 9% in high income).
Question
How can a survey be biased?
Answer
By **who was asked** - e.g. city-only, self-selecting or non-responding samples that don't represent everyone.
Question
Essay: is the middle class the chief threat to resources?
Answer
It is a powerful pressure (especially on water via diet) but interacts with **climate, population and governance** - so it depends on place.
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Topic 3.1 hub
Global trends in consumption
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Geography exam skills
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