Ha ha, yes this is harder to copy structure is what I was alluding to. But I think, that too, is a conventional reading that doesnt really explain the disparity

Ha ha, yes this is harder to copy structure is what I was alluding to. But I think, that too, is a conventional reading that doesnt really explain the disparity between regions. Great universities, massive amounts of capital, reckless, lemming stylr investment behavior etc. exists in many places. Imho the key difference is a deep seated and essentially naive american belief in technology as a "force for good". This helps coordinate society and over time creates the conditions for significant breakthroughs. That naivete is in older parts of the world matched instead with lots of cynicism. They have seen waves upon waves of tech simply facilitate the next calamity. That cynical view is closer to the truth as we can see in how digital tech has become increasingly a force for evil. But the tragedy with tech is that "somebody will do it". You just hope it is eventually going to be shaped by societies that can control it and eliminate its worst implications