> A hen and egg problem? A lot of Why Nations Fail covers this - collapsing or failed developing countries deal with multiple runaway problems. I do not begru

> A hen and egg problem? A lot of Why Nations Fail covers this - collapsing or failed developing countries deal with multiple runaway problems. I do not begrudge individuals doing the best for themselves. But in the grand run of history, democratic free markets with robust middle classes are mostly historical accidents where there is a critical mass of people mutually invested in collective success.