Economic development affects quality of life in a truly tangible way – here are some fun facts to impress your friends.

• Toilet paper did not become a staple in American homes until the popularization of indoor plumbing in the early 1900′s, when industrialization brought modern infrastructure to most of the country. Today, it would be hard to imagine living without toilet paper.
• Because of rising standards of living and the availability of disposable income that has come with economic development, the use of toilet paper is quickly growing in emerging markets.
• As energy and other production costs rise and people become more concerned with the environmental cost of producing toilet paper, the price you pay per roll is increasing. However, Americans don’t seem to be buying any less toilet paper, and it’s doubtful they will any time soon.

Facts & Figures

• The United States spends over $6 billion dollars on toilet paper a year.
• Toilet paper revenues have doubled in Brazil since 2004.
• The average American uses 57 squares of toilet paper a day, which translates into 50 pounds a year!

Best Quote

“The spread of globalization can kind of be measured by the spread of Western bathroom practices.” – David Praeger, Author of Poop Culture: How America Is Shaped by Its Grossest National Product

Tags: demand, development, emerging market