LessWrong (Curated & Popular) “Cheap Labour Everywhere” by Morpheus
Oct 24, 2025
A trip to India opens up a fascinating exploration of the economy and the concept of cheap labor. Personal anecdotes reveal surprising economic realities, including low wages for household help and the stark contrast between India’s rapid growth and Europe’s stagnation. The discussion also touches on how labor costs impact daily life and craftsmanship in unexpected places. Insightful reflections on poverty and economic differences make for a thought-provoking listen.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Household Help Paid Pennies
- Morpheus describes visiting his girlfriend's parents in India and observing very cheap household labor.
- He notes house helps are paid about 5,000 rupees (~$55) per month and households often employ multiple helpers.
Cheap Labor Shapes Whole Economies
- Cheap labour explains many surprising visible differences in daily life and infrastructure.
- Seeing a rapidly growing Indian city made Europe seem comparatively stagnant to him.
Relative Wealth And Poverty Contrast
- Morpheus notes his girlfriend's parents are wealthy by local standards and hire help most days of the week.
- He contrasts helper pay with global poverty lines and family-earning implications at different ages.