Is the ideology of people living in a certain area really that much of a factor in the economic success of that area? Or is is the more the other way around.

Is the ideology of people living in a certain area really that much of a factor in the economic success of that area? Or is is the more the other way around. A location that has attractive geography or abundance of some resource leads to people wanting to live there. Once population reaches a certain density, there is desire for more rules and regulations to prevent a "tragedy of the commons". Progressive policies are more a result of "success" than a cause. In the US, the state Mississippi get stereotyped as failing area. Progressive policies can't do a whole lot there. Maybe higher taxes on the wealthy, but that could only go so far until companies and wealth can just go to other another state. Mississippi is more of a victim of geography than ideology.