re: What exactly makes poor countries poor?

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forced to plan by seasonal changes

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I've thought about that too. Does surviving harsh Winters encourage ingenuity? I would think so.

I think these things are cyclical in nature as far as advanced societies. At least they used to be.

Look at history and the different empires who were advanced for their time, and their subsequent fall usually due to poor leadership or corruption. You had the Roman empire, Persian Empire, Ottoman Empire, Egyptians who built the pyramids, Mayans, Incas, Aztecs, and numerous others. Some fell from within, some conquered and destroyed by others.

At some point in history, almost every race of people and different countries were part of a large advanced society. Human nature destroyed them and then someone else took their spot.

Now fast forward to the rise of Western American culture. Basically we were a new land founded by the best and brightest from many different nations and built on a foundation of freedom and opportunity for all. The success of this model has led to people fleeing other areas to come here and be successful. Americans typically enjoy their comfort zone today, and want it to stay that way. The question remains....will we fall victim to the nature of human faults like all other dynasties or are we different? Perhaps with our global power in today's modern world we simply can influence the rest of the world to the point that we will always be on top and able to protect our own interests. That remains to be seen.

Out of control kids and ideologies.

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Great link.

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Just watched it. That was really good.

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The question remains....will we fall victim to the nature of human faults like all other dynasties or are we different

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The answer is conservatism.

The faster we abandon conservative principles, the more rapidly we approach 3rd world status.

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The 6 Killer Apps to prosperity

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That was a good piece, TED talks usually are.

The government they have is too small, which is why I am a small government conservative, but not an anarchist.

No real investment can take place because the counties in question are too unstable.

Add in lack of concern for property rights and corruption, and I think that pretty much does it.

The "lack of natural resources" is complete bunk. Some of the poorest African countries have tons (literally) of valuable resources. And there are places with few natural resources that have great economies.

Now if you ask, "why don't they have more concern for property rights and a government that will protect them?" I don't have a ready answer.

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I have an evolutionary theory that is probably very controversial.

Human species that were forced to plan by seasonal changes built more of today's more advanced and successful and thus not poor societies. In other words the tribes that were unable to plan due to seasonal changes died off due to famine and other forces brought about by seasonal changes (especially very cold winters) over the millennia.

Then there is the other end of the spectrum where human species was only faced with temperate yearly temperatures. No planning was required thus that trait was never naturally selected among the human species.

This theory assume that most "poor" countries are located in temperate or non-seasonal locations.

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You didn't think of this. It's called Environmental Determinism and was discredited about 70 years ago.

The industrial revolution and world capitalist economy began in Northern Europe. They had an advantage in the world-economy and used it to colonize the rest of the world--the countries you call poor. They were incorporated into the world capitalist economy in a subservient position as sources of raw materials and markets for manufactured goods.

It's not that hard to figure out. It has nothing to do with race or society or culture. Europe had an advantage.

You do know that the Incas and Aztecs had cities that were larger and more advantaged than any cities in Europe. The Incas and Aztecs had sewage systems while the Europeans were still throwing their sewage in the streets.

Diseases were the main reason why their empires fell.

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What exactly makes poor countries poor?

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They lack freedom and self governance.

I am dumb founded by how many people in the world live so poorly and are so mistreated.

It sucks!