There's a good reason so many nations that were formerly dominated by Russia are now exceeding them in GDP per capita. “Isn’t ruled by Vladimir Putin” is highl

There's a good reason so many nations that were formerly dominated by Russia are now exceeding them in GDP per capita. “Isn’t ruled by Vladimir Putin” is highly predictive of GDP, but “has a warm-water port” is far more predictive. Who is doing well? Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia, Georgia, Azerbaijan. Who isn’t doing well? Kazakhstan, Kirghizistan, Tajikistan… There are other variables. “Who has oil”, for example. But “who has unencumbered access to world trade through the sea” is the best.