Growth of the Global Consumer Class

The ptupose of the discussion of the North American polyethylene market in terms of annual per capita consumption, compared to the atmual per capita consumption of the global polyethylene market, was to illustrate the relatively advanced growth stage the North American market occupies compared to the remainder of the world. 

As of 2014, the G20 economies consisted of 19 individual coxmtries and the European Union (EU). The EU has 27 member coxmtries however, foxxr of the EU coxmtries are also individual members of the G20. Hence, a total of 42 coxmtries are members of the G20. The G20 countries as of 2014 are shown in Table 1.9. 

The European Union is the largest single-developed market in the world with more than 450 million people and a total gross domestic product (GDP) of 15.2 trillion US dollars. Table 1.10 shows the GDP, popxilation and per capita GDP for each of the G20 regions. The table is arranged in order of the highest per capita GDP. 

An increased demand for polyethylene will be due to the growth of the global consumer class primarily in the developing economies. 

The G20 regions listed as data points 1-11 are considered well-developed economies with a substantial consumer class. These regions will most likely experience a relatively low increase in polyethylene consximption 

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