> The United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore were able to build well-designed cities that housed and employed millions, in part by persuading foreigners

> The United Arab Emirates, Hong Kong and Singapore were able to build well-designed cities that housed and employed millions, in part by persuading foreigners to invest heavily. In part, yes. But rich "countries" generally exist as low-population centers keeping many people out with strong borders. The UAE keeps out the more numerous Yemenis next door, Hong Kong (all 7 million of them) the mainland Chinese, and Singapore (all 5m) the Malaysians and Indonesians. The richest countries, like Norway, Canada and Australia, are low populations with large natural resources.