Economic liberalization, adopted in the early 1990s, is rapidly transforming India. The nation's economic and social transformation is, in large part, driven by a growing number of young, educated, middle-class professionals. As young educated Indians, the agents of a new free-market economy, embrace economic liberalization and reap the benefits of globalization, it is imperative that we understand the impact of globalization on this large cohort. A clear understanding of how globalization effects young Indians has implications not only for those interested in India from a business and market perspective, but also for policy makers, relying on and planning for relentless growth.

This study investigates the cultural shifts taking place in India as a result of the country's economic transformation. Specifically, it examines the impact of economic globalization on core cultural values of young middle class Indians living in globalized cities, working for multinational corporations (MNCs) and living away from family. The study surveyed more than 1000 individuals between the ages of 17-35 in globalized (Tier 1) and lesser-globalized cities (Tier 2) in an effort to understand the effects of globalization on: work and family individualism, work and family collectivism, work-family/family-work-conflict, career aspiration and competitiveness.

Results demonstrate that respondents living in globalized cities exhibit greater family collectivism than those in lesser-globalized cities, while individualism, specifically in regard to work values, remains consistent across tiers. Moreover, while generally high across tiers, career aspiration and competitiveness are more prevalent in Tier 2 cities than in Tier 1 cities, whereas work-family/family-work conflict is greater in Tier 1 cities than in Tier 2 cities. Results suggest that while Indians are becoming more career driven and competitive in regard to work values, they are retaining potent elements of collectivism in relation to family values. Conclusively, in an increasingly global India, young Indians will be less cooperative and less compromising in situations arising at work and their career ambitions, but will continue to strive to preserve traditional values of collectivity when it comes to family.