All were on the aid dole. Indeed, there were few positive results to cite. Similar has been the more recent experience with Bosnia, the Palestinian Authority, and Russia. With the collapse of the argument that development depends on First World charity, Third World analysts looked elsewhere for answers. Resource endowments, population densities, and cultural attitudes all have impacts in particular cases, but none correlate with overall growth levels.
Economic freedom does, however.
The results of the latest volume of Economic Freedom of the World, written by James Gwartney, Robert Lawson, and Dexter Samida, could not be clearer. The average income of people in the top fifth of economically free countries is nine times as high as that of those in the bottom fifth. People in the most free nations live 20 years longer than those in the least free states. Hong Kong and Singapore tie as the most liberal economic systems. Both are particularly impressive examples.