You make a good point -- if you're in a place without basic infrastructure, the government and the people really want that new infrastructure and few will try t

You make a good point -- if you're in a place without basic infrastructure, the government and the people really want that new infrastructure and few will try to stop you. Everyone benefits from the new drastic efficiency improvements. But if all the basic infrastructure needs are met, do you really want someone building a noisy interstate near you? My theory: in a growing economy, the easiest way to make money is to build something new (e.g. in a city with tons of new real estate being built). In a developed economy, though, there's more incentive for rent-seeking behavior (e.g., there's not a ton of capacity for new development and it's easier to stop your competitor). Finally, labor is just cheaper in developing economies.