Good link, thanks.<p>Hernando de Soto makes a similar case that societies need some cultural achievements unlocked before their market-based economies can work well. Stuff like property rights, fair and impartial courts, contract law, enforced regulatory authority, professional civil servants, etc.<p>The Mystery of Capital: Why Capitalism Triumphs in the West and Fails Everywhere Else<p>Hernando de Soto (Author)<p><a href="http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;The-Mystery-Capital-Capitalism-Everywhere&#x2F;dp&#x2F;0465016154" rel="nofollow">http:&#x2F;&#x2F;www.amazon.com&#x2F;The-Mystery-Capital-Capitalism-Everywh...</a><p>I have friends that work in development who criticize de Soto: a good start, but as one would expect, the story isn&#x27;t that simple. Alas, I don&#x27;t recall their upgrades to de Soto&#x27;s insights.