Research of UBS published in The Economist on the 24th September 2012 presents how many

minutes of work are required to purchase 500 ml of beer in 27 different countries of the
world. The data is being displayed in a chart which depicts the name of the country, number
of minutes up to 60 and a retail price for 500ml of beer in dollars from 2011. The retail price
was divided by median hourly wage.
In general, it is noticeable in the research that in poorer countries the number of
minutes of labor rises. The biggest amount of work needs to be done in India, to buy a 500ml
of beer – approximately 54 minutes per a 1,40$ beer. In contrast, in the United States the
number of minutes is the smallest – only 16 minutes of labor are needed to purchase a 1,80$
beer. What is unexpected, increased price of beer does not necessarily mean a rising time of
work. For instance, when it comes to countries mentioned in the chart, the most expensive
beer in 2011 could be purchased in Japan. However, the number of minutes to afford it is at
18 minutes, and it is smaller than the average of 150 countries. Moreover, surprisingly in
Ukraine and Poland the result is almost the same as in Australia, which is undoubtedly much
wealthier country than the two previously mentioned. Nonetheless, it is understandable
considering the prices; Australia’s beer price of 2011 reached a peak of 3,70$, as opposed to
Slavic countries of prices at either 0,65$ or 1,75$. Apart from the result of each country, the
chart depicts an average of 150 countries, which amounts to 20 minutes of work for a beer of
cost 1,55$. Comparing the data as of continents, there is an upward trend in the amount of
labor to purchase a beer in countries of Asia, South America, and Africa, whereas in Europe,
Australia, and North America the amount decreases.
As mentioned before, the chart shows the difference between the amount of labor in
different countries, on the bigger scale however it displays the comparison between the richer
and the poorer. The contrast is immense. The chart can rise the awareness of how much labor
inhabitants of poverty-stricken countries is needed in order to be able to purchase such a
simple product like beer.