5 ms·

Substitute Frappuccino for a burger and it is the Big Mac index. http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index http://www.economist.com/content/big-mac-index

seanmcdirmid 12y ago
Ironically, Big Macs are on sale right now for 10 kuai in Beijing.
- nothrabannosir 12y ago
  Nice. Maybe not in China, but some countries force McDonald's to lower their BigMac price to hack that index. The Wikipedia page mentions countries doing this, and, seeing the quality and price of Big Macs in some places compared to other Mc burgers, it's not surprising. E.g. the Argentinian one was half price of everything else, it was an awful burger, meat covering half the bun. And it was never advertised, only conspicuously tucked away at the bottom of the menu in a corner of the shop: http://i.imgur.com/MbCaZnG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/MbCaZnG.jpg How's it in China, compared to other burgers?
  - Thimothy 12y ago
    Ah, Argentinian creative economics. I follow their developments from time to time just for the amazement value, this one is new for me, thank you. For those curious, here is an excellent article about its history, worth the read: (Paywall) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabd... (Google cache version) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:eFrFcG7iOKIJ:www.ft.com/cms/s/0/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0.html+&cd=1&hl=es&ct=clnk&gl=es&client=firefox-a#axzz3L1MkHN00 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:eFrFcG7... And another one with some of the juicy parts: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-timeline-of-argentinas-sordid-history-with-default-2014-7 http://www.businessinsider.com/a-timeline-of-argentinas-sord...
  - seanmcdirmid 12y ago
    The bigmac in China is about the same in quantity to the states, it's normal price is just slightly cheaper than the USA version. Now if they would just give me a second packet of ketchup for the fries and ice in the drink, I might not feel like I'm in a third world country.
    - happyscrappy 12y ago
      Try going into a Greek owned restaurant in the US. They give you the greasiest food possible and don't want you to have any napkins.
fractalsea 12y ago
In my experience this is a terrible metric. The demographics that McDonalds is marketed in different countries varies enormously. I find in Western countries it is seen as unglamorous, cheap and quick food. Whereas when I was in India, for example, it is much more expensive than cheap food you can buy there, and therefore is seen much more as a nice place to go with your family (or girlfriends/boyfriend), and it tends to be middle class people who go there. I was trying to think of a good alternative product for this index, but I really couldn't think of any single product that is marketed at exactly the same demographic in each country, as well as having comparable market penetration, and being desired by people to the same degree.
- hrktb 12y ago
  Coca cola could fit the bill

seanmcdirmid 12y ago

Ironically, Big Macs are on sale right now for 10 kuai in Beijing.

nothrabannosir 12y ago
Nice. Maybe not in China, but some countries force McDonald's to lower their BigMac price to hack that index. The Wikipedia page mentions countries doing this, and, seeing the quality and price of Big Macs in some places compared to other Mc burgers, it's not surprising. E.g. the Argentinian one was half price of everything else, it was an awful burger, meat covering half the bun. And it was never advertised, only conspicuously tucked away at the bottom of the menu in a corner of the shop: http://i.imgur.com/MbCaZnG.jpg http://i.imgur.com/MbCaZnG.jpg How's it in China, compared to other burgers?
- Thimothy 12y ago
  Ah, Argentinian creative economics. I follow their developments from time to time just for the amazement value, this one is new for me, thank you. For those curious, here is an excellent article about its history, worth the read: (Paywall) http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0.html http://www.ft.com/cms/s/2/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabd... (Google cache version) http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:eFrFcG7iOKIJ:www.ft.com/cms/s/0/778193e4-44d8-11de-82d6-00144feabdc0.html+&cd=1&hl=es&ct=clnk&gl=es&client=firefox-a#axzz3L1MkHN00 http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:eFrFcG7... And another one with some of the juicy parts: http://www.businessinsider.com/a-timeline-of-argentinas-sordid-history-with-default-2014-7 http://www.businessinsider.com/a-timeline-of-argentinas-sord...
- seanmcdirmid 12y ago
  The bigmac in China is about the same in quantity to the states, it's normal price is just slightly cheaper than the USA version. Now if they would just give me a second packet of ketchup for the fries and ice in the drink, I might not feel like I'm in a third world country.
  - happyscrappy 12y ago
    Try going into a Greek owned restaurant in the US. They give you the greasiest food possible and don't want you to have any napkins.

fractalsea 12y ago

In my experience this is a terrible metric. The demographics that McDonalds is marketed in different countries varies enormously. I find in Western countries it is seen as unglamorous, cheap and quick food. Whereas when I was in India, for example, it is much more expensive than cheap food you can buy there, and therefore is seen much more as a nice place to go with your family (or girlfriends/boyfriend), and it tends to be middle class people who go there. I was trying to think of a good alternative product for this index, but I really couldn't think of any single product that is marketed at exactly the same demographic in each country, as well as having comparable market penetration, and being desired by people to the same degree.

hrktb 12y ago
Coca cola could fit the bill