For the US, I think it is cultural. Americans are taught from a young age that it is do or die. And they do a lot, they die a lot too. It is evident with the re

For the US, I think it is cultural. Americans are taught from a young age that it is do or die. And they do a lot, they die a lot too. It is evident with the relationship to money, in Europe, we are told to save money, never spend what you don't have, etc... In they US, you should invest until you have nothing left, and then live on a credit, not using money you have is seen as a waste. I sincerely think that it is part of the reason why the US is so successful as a country. It has a population that is both hard working and efficient in a way that is unseen in other countries, mostly because it has no choice. For China, I think the reason is much simpler: it is huge. It has twice the population of Europe, and four times that of the US. And they are just transitioning to becoming a developed country. India is a bit lagging as a country, but I expect it become a major force in the near future for the same reasons.