I can easily envision alternatives, such as Communist victories in post-World War II elections in Italy and France that would have impoverished nations now in the rich North. I can also envision alternatives that would have enriched poor nations: Deng Xiaoping becoming China’s leader in 1956 rather than 1976 would have done the job there.
我可以轻而易举地想象出其他选择，例如二战结束后共产党在意大利和法国获胜从而导致现在北方富国的贫困。我也可以想象可以让穷国变富的选择，那就是，邓小平在1956年而非1976年成为中国领导人就可能让中国变得富有。但是，那些以减少北方富有国家财富为代价让南方穷国更为富有的选择则会要求人类心理方面翻天覆地的革命。