I apologise for taking the topic off-track.

I do not know whether I might be on the right track about this. But, it seems that what you are experiencing is the beginning stages of the phenomena known as globalisation.

Any business having an international link would have to dip its rates to the lowest bottoms, which would have to reflect the strength of weaker currency nations. For, almost all infrastructure, and personnel may have to be brought into parity with the developing nations’ standards. It can be felt in the Airlines, and many other areas. For example, if the BBC is employing staff and infrastructure from third world nations, the expense would come down drastically.

I feel that there is a lot more to be understood, when moving through this twilight zone period. And one may not find the right answers if one just goes through the traditional economic theories, like that of Mercantilism, Adam Smith, laissez faire, free market economy, demand and supply, dynamic checks and balances of economic activity etc. For, they may not be fully equipped to understand the comprehensive and overwhelming effects of this phenomenon.

But then, many years ago, I was severely admonished for stepping into areas, which remain the domain of experts (in my nation).

As for the theme on rail travel, I find it interesting that in my writings (book) there was a theme with really does resonate on the very theme that was discussed here.