Thieves in charge

History shows later-copying countries become wealthy faster than do originating countries.

“Every economy that has moved peasants to an export-orientated manufacturing economy has had rapid economic growth. Great Britain industrialized at about 1 percent per annum. It was slow because all the technology needed to be invented for the first time. During the 19th Century US economic growth – once started – ran about twice the rate of the UK. They copied the technology which was faster than inventing it. Later economies (eg Japan, Malaysia, Thailand, Korea) went later and faster. As a general rule the later you industrialized the faster you went – as the ease of copying went up. In the globalized internet age copying foreign manufacturing techniques and seeking global markets is easier than ever – so China is growing faster than any prior economy.

“This fast economic growth – which would happen in a more open economy – is creating the fuel for the Chinese kleptocracy.”

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-the-chinese-kleptrocracy-works-2012-6#ixzz1xUSqh41m