North Americans don't do well in many areas where the Soviets did. In my experience one simple fact screams in every moment I deal with them. Their workers are better trained in a multitude of subjects. They often seem more rigid than we but more information often makes dialogue difficult and even impossible between people on different levels of understanding. You can't compare the life of a person who begins with nothing to someone whose parents are affluent or even middle class but information and education can often carry a person into the present in one generation.
Economic issues are different.
Intellectual Capital is only equal to fiscal capital in humdrum non-culturally oriented professions or in large systems like corporations, churches or schools. For the private Entrepreneur, there is simply no substitute for money in developing the future. Or as my Elder said about my father when I was complaining. You will be damned lucky to come as far as he compared to where you started. Also, I've read your notes.