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by tmptmp 3486 days ago
Your comparison is almost like comparing apples with oranges.

India, although has achieved some good results, is mostly a third world country [1] (barring few metro places), and thus various project costs are mostly insignificant as compared to US California. Also cutting corners regarding project safety issues, labor safety issues is not uncommon in third world countries.

It is also similar to China being able to manufacture things at a cheaper price, with almost forced labor and no minimum wages comparable to USA.

It is also similar to Bangladesh being able to manufacture clothes at a cheaper price, with almost forced labor and no minimum wages comparable to USA.

Do you remember what happened in Bhopal? [2]

Granted, the company UCIL was American, but it was the Indian govt which allowed it to go scot-free.

[1] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21v6b43j87E

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bhopal_disaster
2 comments
sandGorgon 3486 days ago
Tamil Nadu has strict labor protection laws because the government is a populist government.

India is not China - democracy (for the most part) still works as effectively as it does in the USA. For example, Standing Rock.

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Huppie 3486 days ago
Not saying I disagree that the comparison is a bit odd, I just want to add that I did find OP's information / the discussion around the costs of infrastructure projects in the US [1] interesting to say the least. Looking at those sources in does indeed sound plausible that the US has some issues with costs of infrastructure projects compared to other (even first world) countries.

I didn't find a good explanation why OP thinks this is because of the lack of Social Technology though.

[1]: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=13070867

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