Kalistani Major History

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Inside Kalistan's new Upper Class
Wealth grows, Population begins shifting, but Inequality remains low
Kaliburg, Grand Duchy of Ananto
April 18, 5547


Baroness Angela Thewlis, at home in the Green Plain, rural Ananto

A recent survey of wealth distribution conducted by High Bong University in the Duchy of Neveras has given numbers to a long suspected trend: Kalistanis in general are becoming wealthier. The surprising finding from the study however is that the improvement in the living standard tends to affect all classes equally. In fact, the study, conducted by a team led by Brent Talmadge, professor of MacroEconomics at High Bong University, found that the disparity of wealth for 99 percent of the population is as close now as it has ever been, yet all enjoy a higher standard of living than they did two generations ago.

"We have found historically, under the socialist period," said Professor Talmadge, "wealth disparity among Kalistanis was scored between 32 and 45 on a scale of 100, with 0 representing perfect equality between the upper and lower classes, and 100 representing perfect inequality. Those categories are of course the characterization of a number of important operationalizations including access to basic services like food, medicine and education, access to a good safe well paying job, availability of free time, work life expectancy, access to luxury, access to media, etc. A score like Kalistan's historically suggested that most people had access to nearly all of our categories most of the time, and very few were left far behind or had more than their share."

"Fifty years ago, when measuring Kalistan, the score they came to was 48," continued Talmadge. "That is a respectable score, for sure, but now, Kalistan scores a 36 on this equality scale." Talmadge noted that a strong emphasis on social protection and full employment while protecting individual wealth as a policy of the State promotes equality among the classes in Kalistan. "If you didn't know better, you could be excused for confusing the policies of His Imperial Majesty's Government, at least the economic policies, for a Socialist Government. There are important differences, but the goal appears to be the same."

As inequality continues to shrink the other major take away is that more people have more money in Kalistan. "More people are moving into the upper classes as investment and finance increases in importance," said Talmadge. "There is more disposable income in Kalistan now, among nearly all segments of the society. And people are spending this wealth in surprising ways."

Many people are now gaining access to luxury items like boats, foreign automobiles, fashion, jewelry and homes. "More and more people are beginning to build homes in the rural parts of Kalistan," said Talmadge. "Kalistan has an urbanization rate of about 81 percent, which leaves vast swaths of the country populated only by farmers or hermits. But the new fashionable way for Kalistan's wealthy to spend their money is on acreage." A new informal policy of His Imperial Majesty's Government to encourage settlement of the underpopulated area in the Empire is to make landowners eligible for titles. "The Emperor has begun issuing noble titles and memberships to the Peerage to those who settle a certain amount of land, make certain improvements, including permanent home construction, and cultivate the land. In order to obtain the title, usually Baronet or Marquis, the individual must actually occupy the land for no less than 9 months of every year for ten years, pay a moderate land use tax, and may not rent the land out to tenants. And so far, wealthy people are flocking to the countryside, building chateaus and farmsteads, and are forming the new germ of a landed gentry."

The homes that these wealthy people are abandoning in the cities are being made available in record numbers as upper middle class people see an opportunity to move into more luxury accommodations. "It's odd, its like reverse gentrification," said Talmadge. "In Kalistan and Ananto's major cities, as much as 15% of the housing stock has changed ownership in the last five years," said Talmadge. "People are moving 'up' into neighborhoods that were previously dominated by members of a higher class. The property values, which have remained steady for decades, and the lack of upward pressure caused by a free market, means that people can more easily move into a house that more correctly suits their image of themselves and their tastes."

The encouragement of upper and upper-middle class Kalistanis to move to the countryside and acquire land goes to support the Emperor's plans to begin updating the nation's Housing Stock. "We are going to see a lot of turbulence in the housing situation in Kalistan over the next twenty or so years," said Talmadge. "NSP is already beginning to take down out of date highrise apartments, and to rehabilitate old houses. What replaces it will be more energy efficient homes with smaller yards, townhouses that more efficiently utilize the available space in our Cities, and new highrise apartment buildings with shops and services nearby, including access to mass transit. The overall vision is the walkable, green cities of tomorrow, and it is spurred by the policies being driven by the top of Kalistan's power structure."

For now, country life is leading to a number of follow-on effects in the Kalistani countryside. "As populations shift into the country, services need to follow," said Talmadge. "This means roads to the newly founded communities, as well as stores, electrical infrastructure, fire departments, schools, shopping centers, movie theaters, charging stations, libraries and such." One such community, in Ananto's Green Plain remains unincorporated, but already has a population of 345 peoples, a grocery store, a shopping center, and a school system. Within the next year, a MoCo dealership will be opened there and new cellular and internet service will arrive. The construction represents a fairly significant job opportunity for working and middle class individuals in Eveari and Kaliburg who want to move to the country and perform the services demanded by the money elites. And that will create another wave of follow on services as new businesses and services sprout up to cater to the workers.

"This is not trickle down," said Talmadge. "This is how towns organically grow. When you have a large group of people with significant disposable income, they often put it to work for them. The result is a net positive for the community." As these new population centers grow, Talmadge predicts as many as ten new cities will be incorporated in the next 20 years. "This is going to be a very exciting period in Kalistan's history. Lots of movement around the Empire is expected, coupled with a lot of new investment in services, finances, and construction."