1) Those studies are very hard to do, because you can't set up control conditions. "A Farewell to Alms" by Clark has historical data which might be the closest

1) Those studies are very hard to do, because you can't set up control conditions. "A Farewell to Alms" by Clark has historical data which might be the closest thing to. For example, per capita income in Europe went way up after the Plague. 2) I don't think he is being uber-sneaky about this - I believe he has mostly intentions. But good intentions don't guarantee positive (or optimal) results. I also think Gates wants to be respected by society, and before he started giving billions away his street-rep was of a geeky, conniving person. Now he is a Times person of the year and everyone loves him. You don't think he thought about that?