Exploitative colonialism and multinational corporations are definitely things that exist, but countries that do neither still manage to produce a high standard

Exploitative colonialism and multinational corporations are definitely things that exist, but countries that do neither still manage to produce a high standard of living by having low levels of corruption. This is what all countries with high standard of living has in common, not stealing from other countries. Besides, such exploitation doesn't even help the standard of living in the home countries anyway, since the profits are more likely to be stashed in offshore accounts or reinvested in more of the same shenanigans, rather than be invested in the home economy.