I spent 10 months (2009-2010) in Eastern Europe, where refrigerator magnets are starting to make their debut. This hand painted Ladybug Magnet came from a kiosk in Ramstore Mall (Skopje, Macedonia). It cost 100 denars, which is about $2.25.
This small item, albeit cute, is an alarming sign, for refrigerator magnets are one of the first indicators of an emerging consumerist society.
On the other hand, European refrigerators are small, so, perhaps, all is not lost.