In this insightful column by the economist and regular columnist for the New York Times, Paul Krugman, he correctly identifies the huge rise in oil prices for what it is, a result from the steadily increasing demand of the emerging economies, which in all other contexts than the cost to our pocketbooks, is a very good thing.
The increased freedom that the consumers of the world have when they are able to afford the artifacts of middle class culture—as we have for decades—will slowly result in a corresponding freedom of thinking leading to, one continues to hope, better governance from the political leaders of their countries, with a higher respect for human dignity.
