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Demand will also escalate for basic goods like washing machines, cars and telephones in parts of the world where many people have never had them before. That will keep global assembly lines humming, as well as fueling demand for ever-more automated systems to operate them more efficiently.

I fail to see how a worker making $7/week or month will be able to afford a washing machine in the near future. Presuming the wage 30 times higher and a savings rate of 1$/week in 100 weeks they will be able to save $100. However such a savings rate is vastly higher than one may expect. Look for rates more like $.10/week. The lower paid worker is barely managing to subsist. For them a luxury might be some occaisional protien or more than a one room hovel without running water and electricity. More likely they are living in a Chinese dormatory and any privacy is a luxury.

I fail to see how a worker making $7/week or month will be able to afford a washing machine in the near future

I think, and I could be wrong, the washing machine miraculously will not cost the $500 it costs here.

I used to live in Europe. I would buy Kellogs Nutri Grain bars. I would pay $2.00 for a box of them. I come home and a box of Nutri Grain bars can set me back $3.69.