I feel like this is just a coincidence. The UK is a collection of islands too and isn't doing very well - the only land border they have is with another part of

I feel like this is just a coincidence. The UK is a collection of islands too and isn't doing very well - the only land border they have is with another part of an island... Ireland. Germany which is doing much better has land borders with 9 (?) different countries, of which most are still open for commercial traffic.