Non G-8 countries live in what I like to call the "Flintstones/Jetsons world", one where you can get bootlegs of just-released DVDs in market stalls and where you still have to "reconfirm" your flight home because your booking is done on paper.

As for the clocks, my guess is that it's not line voltage (which fluctuates with demand, even in G-8 countries) but AC frequency. AC power cycles at 60Hz (except in crazy old England, where I believe it's still 50Hz), and the clockworks of old electric clocks rely on this. The only clocks I know of that still use AC motors are "institutional clocks", the kind you see in schools and government buildings. Most clocks you can buy at Wal-Mart, even the analog ones, rely on DC power -- either batteries, or AC power converted to DC by a bridge rectifier -- and are not susceptible to AC power cycle slowdowns.

An interesting side note: As a sort of pre-networked world way of warning people of impending nuclear attack, the American Civil Defense people came up with a device that would sound an alarm the moment power dropped to 50Hz. I suppose before a nuclear attack, more power would be shunted to military facilities and it would be a quick way to tell everyone to assume the position and kiss their sweet asses goodbye.