Gen Zs in front of the ‘Great Manjushri Hall’ within a temple courtyard. Source: Trinetra In post-pandemic China, a quiet revolution is reshaping tourism. The era of passive sightseeing is giving way to a deeper, more intentional form of travel - centred on personal growth, cultural reconnection, and spiritual exploration . Pilgrimage route leading to Pusading (Bodhisattva Peak), the Qing Imperial Temple built in the 17 th century. This isn’t just a shift in preference; it’s

Youth Emotional Consumption - Jakarta, Indonesia  “Sometimes I end up buying something I don’t even use—just because of FOMO.”   — Saria, 28, Surabaya    Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is often dismissed as a millennial or Gen Z quirk—a social media-driven urge to chase trends, likes, and experiences. But in emerging markets (EMs), FOMO runs deeper. It’s not just about envy or boredom; it’s tied to survival, dignity, and the relentless pressure to “keep up” in economies where wa

EMs face a persistent development paradox: the middle-income trap, where nations stagnate between low-wage competition and high-value innovation. In Latin America (LATAM), this manifests as chronic labour informality—50% of workers (140 million people) operate outside formal institutions, sacrificing social protections for flexibility and community. During economic stagnation, however, LATAM workers have continued to develop their skill sets informally and through intermitten

Anthropologists use the phrase  “Make the familiar strange, and the strange familiar”  to challenge assumptions and reframe what we take...