Spending money for buying something we need is what most of us do everyday. What we end up buying is an economic decision dictated by our needs. It is purely driven by considerations that suits our personal desires and pocket. Have you ever wondered that we may be encouraging illegal trade or even criminals with our buying decisions. The eye-opener for me was a UN ad on endangered species. It showed a couple in the market. They come across a pleasant vendor selling oils of endangered species like sharks and other animals. As the couple selects an oil and the lady reaches for her purse to pay the vendor who in anticipation extends his hand, the frame freezes, a voice over asks the couple to reconsider their decision to make the purchase, as by doing so they end up nourishing with their money a whole supply chain of an illicit racket. That ad made an impact somehow! My test came not too long thereafter when I was at a supermarket. When I finished doing my purchases, an inner voice somehow compelled me to look at my basket and see if theres is something that should not be there. I was surprised at what I saw. My check-out trolley contained almost a quarter of item that I was not too sure about if they landed up with through the legitimate means in this country and in that supermarket. Most of it was imported stuff available at almost lower the price at which the local stuff was available. The price differential was primarily because the stuff made locally was duty paid and the imported one was not. Add to it that the imported stuff was better in quality than the local stuff. For a smart consumer the rate and quality differential are in your favour its good enough to go for the imported stuff and that is why this stuff sells because we prefer it. That sparked an imaginary internal bout in which on one side was a smart experienced consumer and on the other was the ethical one, a young new comer. The smart consumer was for buying all the stuff that is better in quality and lower in price and the ethical one arguing that our hard earned money should go in buying the stuff that goes to legitimate businesses: the ones which promote local employment and pays taxes, even if it costs more. The bout started and the smart thrashed the ethical one. But the ethical one somehow proved to be a resilient one, stood his ground admirably though he took a beating, the referee declared the match in favour of smart by finishing the count - almost, when the final bell rang. The bad news was that the smart won the match. The consolation for ethical was he was not taken out by smart one on knock out but on points basis only and the margin was not that wide. The judges somehow failed to appreciate the strength of ethical, but next time around they will. The ethical one took many punches but returned a few extremely well. It was a not a one-sided bout. In the post match conference the smart was arrogant and confident of wining the next round of buying as well. The ethical one was also confident that it will be able to beat the smart one eventually with better fitness and rationale. The ethical also warned the smart one to be cautious when giving money as charity. Making sure that I take the trouble of knowing well that the money goes for the right causes is the responsibility of the giver. And that idea came from another ad. This one by the Government of Pakistan. A father and daughter are strolling when the daughter saw a children in taters and out of pity asks his father to give him something. The father is about to do that when he sees a masked person with a gun lurking behind the kid. I think if we can start acting more consciously as a consumer and a donor this world will be a safer place.
Posted on: Fri, 05 Sep 2014 17:18:46 +0000
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