Difference between revisions of "User:Conservative/Culture and other information"

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In 2025: USA is ranked #13, China ranked #16 and Russia does not make it into the top 69 countries. Switzerland/Singapore take the top 2 spots.[https://www.imd.org/centers/wcc/world-competitiveness-center/rankings/world-competitiveness-ranking/rankings/wcr-rankings/#_tab_List]
 
In 2025: USA is ranked #13, China ranked #16 and Russia does not make it into the top 69 countries. Switzerland/Singapore take the top 2 spots.[https://www.imd.org/centers/wcc/world-competitiveness-center/rankings/world-competitiveness-ranking/rankings/wcr-rankings/#_tab_List]
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== Kleptocracies and economics ==
 
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*[https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/012215/how-corruption-affects-emerging-economies.asp How Corruption Affects Emerging Economies], Investopedia. "According to the World Bank, the average income in countries with a high level of corruption is about a third of that of countries with a low level of corruption... The quality of education and healthcare also deteriorates under a corrupt economy, leading to an overall lower standard of living for the country's citizens."
 
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*[https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/07/what-kleptocracy-and-how-does-it-work What is kleptocracy and how does it work?], Chatham House
 
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=== Russia and kleptocracy ===
 
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*[[Essay: Vladimir Putin is a corrupt kleptocrat and an authoritarian]]
 
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*[https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/russia-is-not-actually-a-very-nice Russia is not actually a very nice place to live]
 
  
 
== The U.S. Share of the Global Economy Over Time. USA's percentage of the world's population ==
 
== The U.S. Share of the Global Economy Over Time. USA's percentage of the world's population ==
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QEUGNYSuU Excellence in Action 2008 - John Stossel: Stupid in America]
 
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O7QEUGNYSuU Excellence in Action 2008 - John Stossel: Stupid in America]
  
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== Unraveling of the authoritarian countries of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Argentina. Bad demographics and population decline. Bad economies ==
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[[Image:USNseal.jpg|240px|thumb|right|[[U.S. Navy]] seal]]
  
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6yh-aU2LTM 5 Evil Countries That Are Falling Apart Right Now!], June 2025
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== Land Empires vs Maritime Empires ==
  
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=== Fall of nations YouTube channel ===
 
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*[https://www.youtube.com/@TheFallOfNations Fall of nations - YouTube channel]
 
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== World Press Freedom Index ==
 
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*[https://rsf.org/en/index World Press Freedom Index]
 
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== GDP per capita by state in the United States ==
 
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*[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-u-s-states-by-gdp-per-capita/ MapsMapped: GDP per Capita, by U.S. State], Visual Capitalist
 
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*[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-u-s-states-by-gdp-per-capita/ Mapped: How America’s East and West Coast Economies Compare], Visual Capitalist, 2024
 
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== Land Empires vs Maritime Empires ==
 
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[[Image:USNseal.jpg|240px|thumb|right|[[U.S. Navy]] seal]]
 
 
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFe9zlQNuSs Which Is More Effective : Land Empires vs Maritime Empires?], video
 
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KFe9zlQNuSs Which Is More Effective : Land Empires vs Maritime Empires?], video
  
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*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD8BhZEJcjI Paradox of Authoritarian Regimes], Stephen Kotkin, video, 2025
 
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZD8BhZEJcjI Paradox of Authoritarian Regimes], Stephen Kotkin, video, 2025
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== General stats regarding authoritarian regimes ==
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=== Length of rule of dictators ===
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"On average, dictators stay in power for 13 years."[https://www.politics.ox.ac.uk/news/how-dictators-and-authoritarians-stay-power]
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"Authoritarian leaders can remain in power for varying durations, from a few years to several decades. The average length of time dictatorships stay in power is around 13 years, but this can fluctuate significantly based on various factors. Some may be ousted quickly, while others may consolidate their rule for decades.
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Factors influencing the duration of authoritarian rule ..." - [https://www.google.com/search?q=How+long+do+authoritarians+last+in+power&oq=How+long+do+authoritarians+last+in+power&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMg0IAxAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBBAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBRAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMg0IBhAAGIYDGIAEGIoFMgcIBxAAGO8FMgcICBAAGO8FMgYICRAuGEDSAQkxNDcxMWowajmoAgCwAgE&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8 How long do authoritarians last in power?]
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== Kleptocracies and economics ==
 +
 +
*[https://www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/012215/how-corruption-affects-emerging-economies.asp How Corruption Affects Emerging Economies], Investopedia. "According to the World Bank, the average income in countries with a high level of corruption is about a third of that of countries with a low level of corruption... The quality of education and healthcare also deteriorates under a corrupt economy, leading to an overall lower standard of living for the country's citizens."
 +
*[https://www.chathamhouse.org/2022/07/what-kleptocracy-and-how-does-it-work What is kleptocracy and how does it work?], Chatham House
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 +
=== Russia and kleptocracy ===
 +
 +
*[[Essay: Vladimir Putin is a corrupt kleptocrat and an authoritarian]]
 +
 +
*[https://www.noahpinion.blog/p/russia-is-not-actually-a-very-nice Russia is not actually a very nice place to live]
 +
 +
== Unraveling of the authoritarian countries of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Argentina.  Bad demographics and population decline. Bad economies ==
 +
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6yh-aU2LTM 5 Evil Countries That Are Falling Apart Right Now!], June 2025
 +
 +
=== Fall of nations YouTube channel ===
 +
 +
*[https://www.youtube.com/@TheFallOfNations Fall of nations - YouTube channel]
 +
 +
== World Press Freedom Index ==
 +
 +
*[https://rsf.org/en/index World Press Freedom Index]
 +
 +
== GDP per capita by state in the United States ==
 +
 +
*[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-u-s-states-by-gdp-per-capita/ MapsMapped: GDP per Capita, by U.S. State], Visual Capitalist
 +
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*[https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-u-s-states-by-gdp-per-capita/ Mapped: How America’s East and West Coast Economies Compare], Visual Capitalist, 2024
  
 
== East/West: Authoritarian vs. individualism/democracy: Economic growth and healthy society ==
 
== East/West: Authoritarian vs. individualism/democracy: Economic growth and healthy society ==

Revision as of 13:39, July 16, 2025

Contents

Cultural characteristics of the most productive and prosperous countries per capita

See: Cultural characteristics of the most productive and prosperous countries per capita

Countries with the most cultural influence

  • Countries with the most cultural influence, US News and World Report, 2025 (Italy, France, USA, Spain, Japan, UK, South Korea, Switzerland, Germany and the UAE are the top 10 countries respectively. Russia is ranked #37 in cultural influence.)

Italy:

"Italy is culturally influential due to its extensive historical legacy, particularly the Roman Empire, and its role as the birthplace of the Renaissance. These factors, coupled with its enduring artistic, architectural, and culinary traditions, have significantly shaped Western culture and continue to draw global interest... Catholicism: Italy is the center of the Roman Catholic Church, with the Vatican located in Rome.The Catholic Church has played a significant role in shaping religious and cultural traditions across the globe, with Italy serving as its headquarters."[2]

France:

"France is considered culturally influential due to its long history, rich heritage, and significant contributions to art, literature, fashion, and cuisine, as well as its role in shaping European and global ideas. Specifically, French thought during the Enlightenment, the influence of French art and cinema, and its lasting impact on global fashion and culinary styles all contribute to its enduring cultural presence."[3]

Are some cultures better than others?

Improving labor productivity is a challenging and often lengthy process, but not insurmountable

"Do you see a man skillful in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before obscure men.' - King Solomon (Proverbs 22:29)

See also: Labor productivity

"Improving labor productivity can be challenging but it is not insurmountable. It requires a multifaceted approach involving investment in physical and human capital, technological advancements, and effective management practices. While technological progress offers potential gains, true productivity increases necessitate workforce reskilling and business transformation, which can be a lengthy process, according to McKinsey & Company."[4]

Challenges:

Resistance to Change:

"Organizations may resist adopting new technologies or management practices due to fear of disruption or lack of buy-in from employees, according to Rhumbix."

Difficulty in Identifying Bottlenecks:

Pinpointing exactly what is hindering productivity can be difficult, requiring careful analysis of processes and operations, according to NewStream Enterprises.

"Analyze and Optimize Processes:

Identify bottlenecks and inefficiencies in workflows, and implement measures to streamline operations.

Encourage Collaboration and Knowledge Sharing:

Create an environment where employees can share ideas, learn from each other, and work together to improve productivity.

Track Progress and Make Adjustments:

Monitor productivity metrics, identify areas for improvement, and make adjustments to strategies as needed."[5]

"Lack of Investment:

Insufficient investment in physical capital (e.g., technology, infrastructure) and human capital (e.g., training, education) can limit productivity gains."[6]

Employee Morale and Motivation:

"Low employee morale and motivation can negatively impact productivity, according to Rhumbix."[7]

Cultural characteristics of the most productive countries per capita

St. Basil of Caesarea founded the first hospital. Christian hospitals subsequently spread quickly throughout both the East and the West.[1] See: Christianity and hospitals

See also: List of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita and List of sovereign states by research and development spending and Cultural characteristics of the most productive and prosperous countries per capita

In 2025, there are 195 countries in the world.[8]

In 2025, there are 86 countries classified as high-income by the World Bank.[9] This means that 44% of countries in the world are high income countries according to the World Bank.

Being a Christian country does increase country's odds of being a high-income country (See: Christianity and social stability). Bible reading and Protestantism especially helps a country be a high-income country (See: Bible reading and human flourishing and Protestant cultural legacies and Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism and Christianity and its beneficial effects on society and on individuals

Some countries such as Russia and South Africa struggle to be a high-income country and bounce in an out of being a high-income country[10][11] - despite having an abundance of natural resources or oil/diamonds. Also, within high-income countries, there are poor people. Also, Japan lacks natural resources - yet it is a high income country ("Japan is generally considered to be lacking in natural resources, particularly in terms of raw materials and energy sources. While Japan does possess some resources like fish, forests, and arable land, it relies heavily on imports for essential resources like oil, natural gas, coal, and minerals."[12]). Diversification does help a country be more economically resilient (See: Diversified economies, resilience and stability).

Also, Singapore, which has the highest income per capita (PPP) "has a mandatory savings scheme called the Central Provident Fund (CPF). It's a comprehensive social security savings plan for working Singapore citizens and Permanent Residents (PRs)".[13]

Question: What is the correlation of church attendance rates of a country and human/economic flourishing?

Pareto principle and the world's wealthiest regions: Pareto principle and share of world GNP

See also: Capitalism works and is the best system

Flag of Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein:

Austrian/French/German influences, business-oriented, Roman Catholic, low debt as a nation, into the arts/music (Creativity/Openness), low television watching

Austrian culture: The Untold Story of Vienna’s Global Influence. Catholic. The values of cooperation (See: Agreeableness/harmony), politeness, formality, gemütlichkeit (warmth or happiness), neutrality/peacefulness, conservative/moderateness, artistry (Openness/creativity), privacy, directness and practicality (See: Austrian core concepts and An introduction to Austrian people).

French culture: Liberty, equality (All citizens have the same rights and obligations), fraternity, intellectualism, formality, courtesy, individualism, and artistry (openness/creativity). Future of France. Je T’aime: Why French Is Considered the Most Romantic Language In the World. French culture places a high value on aesthetics, style, and elegance, contributing to the country's reputation as a fashion leader, Why France is associated with luxury, fashion and culture. France, particularly Paris, is renowned as the "fashion capital of the world" due to a rich history of luxury, craftsmanship, and cultural influence, dating back to the 17th century (Louis XIV - the "Sun King") and the reign of Louis XIV, with Paris becoming a hub for haute couture and iconic fashion houses.[14]. "Three of the EU’s five largest corporations by market value are French luxury companies. The biggest, LVMH, is worth about five times as much as Germany’s most valuable carmaker, Mercedes. France, in short, has become the Silicon Valley of luxury. This industry, like French tourism, cannot be offshored to somewhere like Vietnam, because it’s selling the brand of France."[15] French music.

German culture: Efficiency, punctuality (See: Time management), order and organization, family, community, strive for perfection/excellence/precision, critical thinking and practicality (See: German core values).

Luxembourg:

Roman Catholic, Openness (multilingual and multicultural country), pro-European, cautious, and rich cultural history in music/painting/photography

Monaco:

Tourism and banking. Low income/business taxes. Roman Catholic.

Singapore City.

Singapore:

Core British values: Democracy, rule of law, stoicism, diligence, class, respect, tolerance, individual liberty, politeness, reserved, fairness, regional diversity (tolerance) and humor (See: British core values).

Switzerland: Switzerland is 32% Catholic and 20% Swiss Protestantism in 2022.

Punctuatual (Time management and reliability), openness, commitment to quality and excellence, sense of community and civic responsibility and balanced view of life (See: The Swiss Character: How Are Swiss People?. German, French and Italian influences.

Italian core values: Italian core values

USA:

Openness/creativity/innovation, business orientation and freedom.

British influence. Germanic cultural influence in much of the country. Irish and Italian cultural influence in the Northeast. Japanese cultural influence in Hawaii. Western civilization cultural influence (Christianity, Roman/Greek, Enlightenment). See also: American culture

Ireland:

Core cultural tradition: Strong family values, Christian influence, sense of community, wit, modesty/humility, ingenuity/resourcefulness/creativity, patriotism, warmth, mateship, love of storytelling and an appreciation for tradition (See: Core Irish cultural concepts and Cultural of Ireland)

The flag of Norway.

Norway:

Highly developed mixed economy. Oil wealth. Openness. Strong sense of community. Freedom. Equality under the law. High civic engagement. Humility. Respect. Tolerance. Love of nature.

Norweigan cultural values

Nordic values: The Nordic countries share values such as openness, trust, innovation, sustainability, and humanity. See: Nordic values

In Norwegian business culture, some values include:

  • Flat structures
  • Cooperation
  • Informal and quick communication
  • Trust among people
  • Balance of work and private life
  • Punctuality and honesty

Bermuda:

British/Caribbean/Portuguese/African/Native American/American cultural influences. Protestant/Christian influence.

Cayman Islands:

British Influence, tourism and financial services.

Isle of Man:

Irish influence. Low-tax economy with insurance, information and communications technology (ICT), and offshore banking forming key sectors of the island's economy (See: Economy of the Isle of Man).

Liberty and economic productivity

"Give me liberty, or give me death!" - Patrick Henry[2]

"Liberty and economic productivity are strongly linked, with greater economic freedom generally leading to increased economic growth and prosperity. This connection is rooted in the idea that individuals, when free to pursue economic opportunities, innovate, and engage in voluntary exchange, create a more dynamic and productive economy."[16]

Democracies vs. authoritarian countries and economic growth over the long term

See also: Slow and steady growth over the long term via capitalism and the rule of law versus short-sighted authoritarian economic growth that is costly to the long term economy

"Generally, democratic countries tend to have better economic performance than authoritarian countries. Democracies tend to experience more stable and predictable economic growth, and are less likely to have negative growth rates or experience economic crises. Democracy also seems to foster greater overall economic development, including increases in GDP per capita."[17]

  • Western Vs. Authoritarian Capitalism, The Diplomat, 2009 ("The absolute output of countries with large populations can be impressive but misleading. China and Russia are still immensely poor countries. According to the IMF, they rank 107 and 56 respectively in terms of nominal GDP per capita. They have ‘top heavy’ economies with a small number of state-sponsored businesses dominating the most lucrative sectors, while the bottom-up private sector remains relatively stifled. This is necessary for authoritarian governments because they need to hold on to the levers of economic power to retain political power.").

"A key metric of democracy, the Freedom House Democracy Index, divides countries into three categories: free, partly free, and unfree based on the scores awarded to them for political and civil rights. Martínez shows that in free countries, official figures on the national product go hand in hand with the night lights on earth shown in satellite images, without significant deviations. In unfree countries, on the other hand, the night lights are much dimmer than the official output figures would suggest. Autocracies typically exaggerate their national product by a factor of two or more. We knew this about China, from studies that report that the annual growth of the national product has been 2% less than the official figures indicate."[18]

Research indicates that in the long-term, non-authoritarian countries are more likely to experience greater economic growth (See: No, Autocracies Don’t Make Economies Great, Cato Institute, 2021 and Time Under Authoritarian Rule and Economic Growth, CORI Working Paper No. 2007-02).

"When you avoid cherry picking and examine the median GDP growth rates for all the countries for which data are available between 1960 and 2018, you find that democracies have the advantage over autocracies. Comparing median growth rates between democracies and autocracies (see the book for the detailed methods of comparison), we found that democracies tend to outperform autocracies overall." - Cato Institute 2021[19]

The historian Stephen Kotkin said of authoritarian regimes, "This is the problem of despotism. It’s why despotism, or even just authoritarianism, is all-powerful and brittle at the same time. Despotism creates the circumstances of its own undermining. The information gets worse. The sycophants get greater in number. The corrective mechanisms become fewer. And the mistakes become much more consequential.”[3]

Liberty, the state, and the narrow corridor: Why the USA and some other Western countries became economic superpowers and why Russia and other authoritarian states did not

  • The Narrow Corridor — Book Review, Spectrum: "Countries with a strong state apparatus but inadequate checks on their power suffer from such problems as extreme income inequality, lack of innovation, and general lack of human rights. Prime examples would be Russia and China. These countries are described as Despotic Leviathans."
  • The narrow corridor: states, societies and the fate of liberty, Kapuscinski Lectures. "Democracies have more economic growth than non-democracies; after countries transition to democracies, their GDP per capita increases by 20% over the following 20-25 years. Infant mortality also drops as states invest more in education and health."

GDP per capita factors

Source: What factors cause a country to have high income per capita?

Factors related to economic growth

Source: What causes economic growth in a country?

Israel GNI per capita (PPP) and other stats

Israel:

  • 2023: Ranked #34 in the world for GNI per capita (PPP): $53,434[20]
  • In the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2024, Israel ranked 15th out of 133 economies.[21]
  • Fertility rate: 2.89 births per woman in 2022. 2.1 births per woman is considered to be a replacement level of births.
  • Entrepreneurial activity: Business startups - Israel is known as the "start-up nation" and has a large number of startups per capita. Israel has a thriving venture capital market.[22]
  • In 2023, Israel's military spending was 5.3% of its gross domestic product (GDP).
  • Israel cultural characteristics

France's GNI per capita (PPP) vs. Russia's GNI per capita (PPP) in 2023

In a 2023 interview, the international relations scholar John Mearsheimer said Russia was a "weak great power".[1]
  • France's GNI per capita (PPP) in 2023 was about $45,000
  • Russia's GNI per capita (PPP) in 2023 was $14,250

In France, a very high percentage, 99.5%, of dwellings have private access to an indoor flushing toilet, exceeding the OECD average of 97%.[23]

In Russia, 20% of the population does not have indoor toilets.[24]

  • In 2024, France ranked #9th most powerful region in the world and Russia was ranked the 10th most powerful region in the world.[25]

France and Russian cultures:

  • French culture: Liberty, equality (All citizens have the same rights and obligations), fraternity, intellectualism, formality, courtesy, individualism, and artistry (openness/creativity). See: French core values.

Periods where Russia was a high-income country: Russia (2012–14, 2023–present)

The country of France is ranked #2 in cultural influence by U.S. News & World Report.[4] And there are far more Google searches each year for the word "France" than the word "Russia".[5]

Birth rates of France and Russia:

  • France: 1.79 births per woman (2022)
  • Russia: 1.42 births per woman (2022)

The future of France: Future of France

France may be declining, but it far higher from the bottom than Russia is plus Russia's demographic crisis is more severe.

Worldwide Google searches for the terms France and Russia over the last 5 years:

Judging by the far more Google searches on France than Russia, many people are more interested in great French food, French fashion and romantic Paris than they care about imperialist Russia and Russian, nuclear saber-rattling. C'est la vie.

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranks France 2nd in cultural influence among nations.[26]

In 2025, U.S. News & World Report ranks Russia 37th in cultural influence among nations.[27]

Worldwide Google searches for the terms France and Russia



Worldwide Google searches for the terms France and Russia from 2004 to May 6, 2025


Worldwide Google searches for the terms France and Russia over the last 5 years:

Judging by the far more Google searches on France than Russia, many people are more interested in great French food, French fashion and romantic Paris than they care about imperialist Russia and Russian, nuclear saber-rattling. C'est la vie.

Most entrepreneurial countries in the world

Elon Musk

World Competiveness Report by IMD Business School

The IMD World Competitiveness Ranking assesses national competitiveness based on four main factors: Economic Performance, Government Efficiency, Business Efficiency, and Infrastructure. Each factor is further broken down into five sub-factors, resulting in a total of 20 sub-factors. These factors and sub-factors are used to evaluate a country's overall competitiveness.[28]

In 2025: USA is ranked #13, China ranked #16 and Russia does not make it into the top 69 countries. Switzerland/Singapore take the top 2 spots.[29]

The U.S. Share of the Global Economy Over Time. USA's percentage of the world's population

"USA has been about 25% of global GDP since 1880. And the USA is about 50% of defense spending. Europe is 7% of the global population 14.7% global GDP and recently almost 50% of world social spending (Europeans could have high social spending due to the US security guarantees). The USA has a great innovation center in Silicon Valley and is an energy superpower." - The world in flux and Trump’s role in a new equilibrium - Stephen Kotkin Lecture - Apr 25, 2025

"The U.S. population is currently about 4.22% of the total world population. Specifically, the U.S. population is estimated to be around 347,275,807 people, while the total world population is estimated to be around 8.2 billion. "[30]

"In 2025, the United States contributes approximately 26.11% to the world's GDP. This figure represents the US's share of the total global economic output."[31]



The U.S. Share of the Global Economy Over Time

Richest Countries in the World 1500-2022 | GDP PPP per Capita

Golden ages - causes

"Golden ages, periods of significant cultural, technological, and economic advancement, are often attributed to a combination of factors, including political stability, economic prosperity, and the flourishing of the arts and sciences. Specifically, these eras are often characterized by peace and stability, allowing for the development of new ideas and technologies, as well as the creation of lasting cultural achievements." -What are the causes of golden ages?

"Golden ages, periods of great cultural and economic flourishing, are often the result of a confluence of factors, including political stability, relative peace, and the fostering of trade and intellectual exchange. These conditions allow for advancements in science, art, and other fields. " - What are the causes of golden ages in history, Google AI

Peak Human

"In “Peak Human”, the historian Johan Norberg charts the rise and fall of golden ages around the world over the past three millennia, ranging from Athens to the Anglosphere via the Abbasid caliphate. He finds that the polities that outshone their peers did so because they were more open: to trade, to strangers and to ideas that discomfited the mighty. When they closed up again, they lost their shine."[32]

Video playlist:

Relative income, income inequality since the 1950s in the USA

Equality/inequality in the USA

School choice in the USA

Videos:

The Republican divide over school choice, ABC News

Videos: School choice advocate John Stossel

U.S. Navy seal

Land Empires vs Maritime Empires

"Land-based and maritime empires, while both involved extensive territories, developed distinct cultural characteristics based on their geographical context and reliance on different means of power and trade. Land-based empires, like the Ottoman Empire, often emphasized centralized governance, military strength, and the integration of diverse populations within their borders. Maritime empires, on the other hand, focused on naval power, controlling coastal regions, and facilitating trade networks, leading to different approaches to governance, economic development, and cultural exchange."[33]

Influential cities in history

Small town USA: Nice places

Why study history?

Historical perspective and preventing being caught up in a current age's pathology: Christopher Lasch, an American historian and social critic, in his 1979 book The Culture of Narcissism contends that “every age has its own peculiar forms of pathology, which express in exaggerated form its underlying character structure.”[6]

Animosity in modern politics

"Animosity in modern politics is fueled by a complex interplay of factors, including heightened partisan divisions, the rise of social media, economic inequality, and the perception of a lack of fair governance. These factors contribute to the increasing polarization and hostility between opposing political groups."[34]

"Partisan division, or political polarization, is fueled by a combination of factors, including political primaries, partisan news media, and the influence of interest groups. Additionally, demographic changes, educational attainment, and cognitive biases like in-group favoritism play a role."[35]

Envy/socialism can drive hyper-egalitarianism relative to inequality. Crazy views related to sex/gender is also a problem. In addition, many people do not engage in critical thinking and are duped by propaganda.

Culture war

Culture war.jpg

See: Culture war

Humanities

Various trends around the world

2024

2023

Western culture

Western culture and Christianity

In the above map, the Western World regions of the world are colored light blue.

There are countries in Asia that have adopted much of Western values such as Japan, South Korea and the Philippines.

The above graphic comes from the video Why the West Won’t Collapse with Stephen Kotkin (Stephen Kotkin is an American historian, academic, and author.)

The West:

Western values:

USA:

"A Golden Age for America: Trump Delivers a Vision of the Future, 2025: "The Bible gives us a clear answer: “Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord” (Ps. 33:12). If America is to truly enter an era of greatness, it will not be because of policies alone, but because the nation turns back to God. True prosperity, both spiritual and material, comes from repentance and righteousness. If we, as a nation, humble ourselves and seek His ways, then perhaps we will see the blessing and favor that President Trump speaks of."

  • To finish with the ending of aforementioned Ps.33 (v.22): "Let Thy mercy, O LORD, be upon us, according as we have waited for Thee."Telling (talk) 00:21, March 18, 2025 (EDT)
Demographic forecast of Europe

"The EU's population is projected to decline, starting after 2026, reaching a peak of 453 million in that year before decreasing to 420 million by 2100. The decline will be most pronounced in Eastern and Southern EU countries, while Northern and Western countries may experience growth due to higher migration....The share of working-age people (20-64 years) in the EU's total population is projected to decrease."[36]

Christianity and science

The sexual chaos and idolatry conquered by the early church has come roaring back

Is This The Most Absurd Time In History? - Rudyard Lynch

USA: GSS belief in God/irreligion

Vienna

Protestantism, Evangelical Protestant Christianity and economic dynamism

John Wesley

China

Brazil

"Goldman Sachs predicts that Brazil will be one of the world’s top ten powers by 2050, surpassing the United Kingdom and Germany by 2075."[37]

Growth of evangelical Christianity in Brazil: "Evangelical Christianity has grown rapidly in Brazil since the late 20th century, with the number of churches increasing from 1,049 in 1970 to 17,033 in 1990, and then to 109,560 in 2019. In some years, more than 14,000 churches have opened in Brazil, or 38 per day."[38][39]

Why the Families of Russia’s Regional Elites Still Covet Life in the West and Have Their Children Educated in the West

British culture

American culture

The flag which unites all American citizens

History of American culture

Albion's seed:

Trends and important events

Books

Freedom and liberty:

Book review: “Fairness and Freedom: A History of Two Open Societies, New Zealand and the United States,” by David Hackett Fischer, archive

Which is more self-correcting: The US/West or China/Russia and other autocracies?

Response to: STEPHEN KOTKIN - THE WORLD IN PIECES, September 2024

1. USA/West have republic/democracy and populaces often resist fiscal responsibility and engage in excess spending and having aging populations and increasing populism/nativism (Talented immigrants and/or immigrants with proven work ethic are less likely to have well-designed merit-based legal immigration). Democracies are less apt to initiate expensive wars, but once wars are started rulers often don't want to lose face to the public by withdrawing from wars they are losing. Western liberals/Western want to spend more, but increasing can't do so due to financial restrictions have less appeal to public via "goodies".

However, USA/Europe paid off WWII debt. And now the USA is going to have a Department of Government Efficiency lead by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy in the new Trump administration.

2. Autocracies: Top down leadership is less self-correcting and less apt to be responsive/dynamic in relation populace. If imperialistic, more apt to start wars. If "spin dictators", able to start wars more easily, but with some accountability (But with fake/weak elections where competitors are kept out, strong state media and suppression of much of the press) find it harder to end wars than more authoritarian regimes like communist regimes.

3. Autocracies have less economic growth. However, populism in West have less economic growth (But Trump, the businessman, had growth (But not cost cutting partly due to pandemic perhaps), regulation cutting, good foreign policy, etc.).[41]

4. India: Be a better democracy: The US needs a lot of self-correction but this is what it is finding so difficult to do.[42]

Data/arguments so far:

1. Democracy Is Self-Correcting (More self-correcting)

2. USA tradition of self-correction and dynamism: "The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults." - French historian and politician Alexis de Tocqueville.

3. As noted above, USA/Europe paid off WWII debt.

4. Elon Musk said he is launching a government efficiency agency responsible for cost cutting and Trump promised him this job.

French historian and politician Alex de Tocqueville on America's ability to make course corrections


"The greatness of America lies not in being more enlightened than any other nation, but rather in her ability to repair her faults." - French historian and politician Alexis de Tocqueville

Weber's Protestant Ethic and the Spirit of Capitalism

Traditional gender roles

Traditional gender roles are making a comeback

2024: Why Gen Z Is Ditching The Girlboss For The Tradwife, The Federalist

In 2017, The University of Michigan and The University of Texas at Austin conducted a multipart study that found that young people today are more likely to believe a man should be the head of the household than previous generations were.[43]

machismo
One of the definitions of machismo is an "exhilarating sense of power or strength."[7]

The Yorkshire Building Society conducted a survey asking men what they valued most in a spouse. Their answers could be taken from a 1950’s home economics book. The top three answers are as follows;

  • 44% of men said taking care of the home was the most important
  • 39% of men value cooking skills
  • 33% of men value cleaning skills[44]

Google trends - trad wife vs. feminism


World's most competitive countries

World's most digitally competitive countries

Capitalism

"The business of America is business." - Calvin Coolidge

How capitalism/economy works

Ease of doing business index by country (2020)

GNP by country per capita

Most productive countries

List of countries by labor productivity (Ranked using purchasing power parity)

In 2023, the USA was over 200% more productive in terms of labor productivity than Russia when measured using purchasing power parity.[8] In 2023, the USA was over 400% more productive in terms of labor productivity than China when measured using purchasing power parity.[9]

See also: Essay: The USA has one of the highest labor productivity rates in the world - significantly higher than both China and Russia

High-income economies

The United States will likely be the strongest country for the foreseeable future and this is due to the strengths of the USA and partly due to the weaknesses of China and Russia.

Please see: The United States will be the leading power in the world for the foreseeable future

World Bank high-income economy

World Bank high-income economy is defined by the World Bank as a country with a gross national income per capita of US$13,845 or more in 2022, calculated using the Atlas method.

The Atlas method, employed by the World Bank since 1993, is utilized to estimate the economic size of nations in terms of their gross national income (GNI) in U.S. dollars.

To convert a country's GNI from its local currency into U.S. dollars, the Atlas conversion factor is employed. This factor incorporates a three-year average of exchange rates to mitigate the impact of temporary fluctuations in exchange rates. Additionally, it adjusts for the variance in inflation rates between the country in question (using its GDP deflator) and several developed nations (employing a weighted average of their GDP deflators in SDR terms). The resulting GNI in U.S. dollars is then divided by the country's midyear population to determine the GNI per capita

High income economies and former high-income countries

Time periods Russia was a high-income country: Russia (2012–14, 2022). MOSCOW BLOG: Russia is stuck in the middle income trap, 2017, IntelliNews

World economics and related information

2023

The middle-income trap

Many Latin American middle-income countries haven't become high-income countries and have half the labor productivity of countries that are technological leaders.[10][11]

See also: Middle-income trap

Notes:

According to the The Economist basing on data from the World Bank, from 1960 to 2022, only 23 economies has been said to have escaped the middle income trap, most notably the Four Asian Tigers of Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan, Seychelles in Africa, Poland in Eastern Europe, as well as Saudi Arabia in the Middle East. Diversifying exports is also considered important to escape the middle income trap.

"First coined by two World Bank experts in 2007, the middle-income trap phenomenon—the existence of which is disputed by some economists—describes how growth in developing countries tends to stagnate when gross national income (GNI) per capitarises above a certain level, as higher wages push up production costs. Countries can become “stuck in the middle” as they struggle to compete with low-income newcomers where labor costs are still low, and advanced high-income economies with strong innovation.

Although many countries in recent decades have emerged from poverty to enter the middle-income category, very few have made the additional leap to high-income status. In 2012, the World Bank found that only 15 out of 101 middle-incomeeconomies in 1960 had achieved developed status by 2010. Five were from East Asia—Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. And while escaping the middle-income category is difficult, it is also not impossible, with countries like Panama, Argentina and Croatia rising to join the ranks of high-income countries in 2018...

Three factors that will determine China’s ability to avoid the middle-income trap: human capital, export structure, and productivity. (Aiming for the Top: Can China Escape the Middle Income Trap?, 2019).

"According to Asian Development Bank, avoiding the middle-income trap requires identifying strategies to introduce new processes and find new markets to maintain export growth. It is also essential to increase domestic demand because an expanding middle class can use its increasing purchasing power to buy high-quality, innovative products and help drive growth. The biggest challenge is moving from resource-driven growth based on cheap labor and cheap capital to high productivity and innovation, which requires investments in infrastructure and education—building a high-quality education system that encourages creativity and supports breakthroughs in science and technology that can be applied back into the economy."[45]

China likely stuck in middle-income trap

Is there an upper-income trap for a society?

List of countries by Human Development Index

List of countries by economic complexity

How important is religion

USA:

Europe:

Russia:

Countries with shrinking/growing populations

Map Reveals Countries With Disappearing/growing Populations

Demography/fertility

“One of the biggest risks to civilization is the low birth rate and rapidly declining birthrate.” - Elon Musk[12]

Countries with the most population loss

United States

World fertility rate and fertility rate by country

United States, immigration and the growth of religion

See: United States, immigration and the growth of religion in the USA in the latter part of the 21st century

Retirement: It's a modern idea. Get to work you lazy boy!

Baby boomers and retirement

Dismantling of a bloated administrative state and rooting out of leftists in government

Modern authoritarian regimes


General stats regarding authoritarian regimes

Length of rule of dictators

"On average, dictators stay in power for 13 years."[46]

"Authoritarian leaders can remain in power for varying durations, from a few years to several decades. The average length of time dictatorships stay in power is around 13 years, but this can fluctuate significantly based on various factors. Some may be ousted quickly, while others may consolidate their rule for decades. Factors influencing the duration of authoritarian rule ..." - How long do authoritarians last in power?

Kleptocracies and economics

  • How Corruption Affects Emerging Economies, Investopedia. "According to the World Bank, the average income in countries with a high level of corruption is about a third of that of countries with a low level of corruption... The quality of education and healthcare also deteriorates under a corrupt economy, leading to an overall lower standard of living for the country's citizens."
  • What is kleptocracy and how does it work?, Chatham House

Russia and kleptocracy

Unraveling of the authoritarian countries of China, Russia, Iran, North Korea and Argentina. Bad demographics and population decline. Bad economies

Fall of nations YouTube channel

World Press Freedom Index

GDP per capita by state in the United States

East/West: Authoritarian vs. individualism/democracy: Economic growth and healthy society

See: Essay: Why has the West been so successful?

Western civilization

Eastern civilizations

  • East: More collectivist. Rice farming more collectivist

Singapore (High standard of living and low crime). Had British/Western influence

Singapore City.

See: Singapore

The British/Western Influence on Singapore: "We have many good essays on the English language, the rule of law, the free port, free trade, open economy, the civil service, health, education, welfare, town planning, low-cost housing, anti-corruption, business, sports, culture, the commonwealth, etc. The British left a rich legacy in Singapore." See: Singapore and the United Kingdom: 1819 to 2019

Singapore: Hardworking, meritocracy, studious, disciplined, collectivist, low corruption and economic liberty

Academic

Abstract: As an authoritarian country achieves more economic freedom, it is often urged by its citizens to start pursuing social freedoms. This has led to the liberalization of many authoritarian nations and pushed them to adopt more liberal policies. But not Singapore. Singapore is one of the most economically-developed countries in the world yet it has a surprising lack of social/political freedom. But how does it succeed where so many others have failed? Why is Singapore one of the most successful free-market economies as well as one of the most societally restrictive? And how long can it continue to succeed? As it stands now, the same political party has been winning elections in Singapore for more than 60 years. How long can they last?

Japan (High standard of living and low crime). Had post WWII American influence

The flag of Japan

Japan: Hardworking, studious, disciplined, harmonious and collectivist (Government invest in key industries. East Asian model )

United States influence on Japan:

"After the defeat of Japan in World War II, the United States led the Allies in the occupation and rehabilitation of the Japanese state. Between 1945 and 1952, the U.S. occupying forces, led by General Douglas A. MacArthur, enacted widespread military, political, economic, and social reforms." - Occupation and Reconstruction of Japan, 1945–52

Influence of American management consultant William Edwards Deming on Japan: "Starting in 1950 and in subsequent trips to Japan - 27 trips in all - Deming taught the Japanese his management philosophy which eventually came to be called the System of Profound Knowledge. This work has widely been cited as a key reason for Japan's rise as an economic world power on the international stage." - The Influence of W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993)

Economy of Japan:

  • Economy of Japan, Britannica. Japan has developed a highly diversified manufacturing and service economy and is one of the world's largest producers of motor vehicles, steel, and high-technology manufactured goods (notably consumer electronics).
  • Japan’s economy, AsiaLinkBusiness. Japan is one of the largest and most developed economies in the world. It has a well-educated, industrious workforce and its large, affluent population makes it one of the world’s biggest consumer markets.

From the 1960s to the 1980s, Japan achieved one of the highest economic growth rates in the world. This growth was led by:

- High rates of investment in productive plant and equipment

- The application of efficient industrial techniques

- A high standard of education

- Good relations between labour and management

- Ready access to leading technologies and significant investment in research and development

- An increasingly open world trade framework

- A large domestic market of discerning consumers, which has given Japanese businesses an advantage in their scale of operations.

Authoritarianism study: Published in the Journal of Democracy

Authoritarianism study: Published in the Journal of Democracy (Not peer reviewed)

The Journal of Democracy is a publication of the National Endowment for Democracy.

Racial demographic shifts

Racial demographic shifts - Eric Kaufmann, Book: White Shift

Eric Kaufmann, Book: White Shift

Multiculturism, Western culture and anti-white bashing

Fertility rates: Conservative age or liberal age for the future?

Conservative age:

Liberal age:

Theory about cultures which some find interesting: Strauss–Howe generational theory

Baby boomers

President Donald Trump is a baby boomer.

Boomers: General

Criticisms

Pro-boomer

In-between and/or defense of boomers

Baby boomers and retirement

How the US Is Destroying Young People’s Future

Technology

Quantum computers:

Music

Modern art

Authoritarianism and international relations

  • Modern Authoritarianism and Geopolitics: Thoughts on a Policy Framework - Stephen Kotkin: Once upon a time, there was a seductive story about twin revolutions, a political one in France and an industrial one in Britain, that supposedly ushered in our modern world. This narrative never sat well with empirical realities, yet it lives on in textbooks. What might be a more persuasive framework for a global history of the modern era? What are the implications for research and the teaching of history? Also, fascism/Nazism, Stalinism and Francisco Franco

Urban planning and related matters

Healthy news diet

How the news affects people. The case for being less partisan/political and being more objective

Walter Cronkite existed at a time when there were fewer news outlets.

The abstract for the journal article At Least Bias Is Bipartisan: A Meta-Analytic Comparison of Partisan Bias in Liberals and Conservatives which was published in the journal Perspectives on Psychological Science states:

"Both liberals and conservatives accuse their political opponents of partisan bias, but is there empirical evidence that one side of the political aisle is indeed more biased than the other? To address this question, we meta-analyzed the results of 51 experimental studies, involving over 18,000 participants, that examined one form of partisan bias—the tendency to evaluate otherwise identical information more favorably when it supports one’s political beliefs or allegiances than when it challenges those beliefs or allegiances. Two hypotheses based on previous literature were tested: an asymmetry hypothesis (predicting greater partisan bias in conservatives than in liberals) and a symmetry hypothesis (predicting equal levels of partisan bias in liberals and conservatives). Mean overall partisan bias was robust (r = .245), and there was strong support for the symmetry hypothesis: Liberals (r = .235) and conservatives (r = .255) showed no difference in mean levels of bias across studies. Moderator analyses reveal this pattern to be consistent across a number of different methodological variations and political topics. Implications of the current findings for the ongoing ideological symmetry debate and the role of partisan bias in scientific discourse and political conflict are discussed."[13]

Arthur C. Brooks wrote in his article Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being: "A 2012 survey conducted by Fairleigh Dickinson University asked a sample of Americans about their news-consumption habits, and quizzed them about U.S. and international political and economic events. They found that those watching the most partisan television news sources—on both the left and the right—were often less knowledgeable about world events than those who consumed no news at all."[14]

"In this article, we examine psychological features of extreme political ideologies. In what ways are political left- and right-wing extremists similar to one another and different from moderates? We propose and review four interrelated propositions that explain adherence to extreme political ideologies from a psychological perspective. We argue that (a) psychological distress stimulates adopting an extreme ideological outlook; (b) extreme ideologies are characterized by a relatively simplistic, black-and-white perception of the social world; (c) because of such mental simplicity, political extremists are overconfident in their judgments; and (d) political extremists are less tolerant of different groups and opinions than political moderates. In closing, we discuss how these psychological features of political extremists increase the likelihood of conflict among groups in society."

The Turn by Liel Leibovitz

  • The Turn by Liel Leibovitz, Tablet Magazine, DECEMBER 08, 2021

Benefits of being more apolitical

Polarized thinking and depression/anxiety

Brain scans and political ideology

Quotes

  • "And only the empathy (emotional faces) task was significantly associated with moderate ideology."[47]
  • "conservatives tend to be more resilient and have better self-control"[48] (Science proves that conservatives have more machismo!)

Liberals vs. conservatives

Sexual mores and behavior:

Political ideology, media consumption, websites and effects

Media consumption: Conservatives vs. liberals:

Right-wing media online ecosystem:

US societal decline until desecularization kicks in around 2050 or sooner

Manufacturing consent: The influence of wealthy class, media and the military-industrial complex on American politics

Manufacturing consent

Noam Chomsky

See: Noam Chomsky

USA, power and politics

Related resources

Neoliberalism critique

Corruption in a society

Causes of corruption in a country

Effects of corruption on a country

Decline of nations/civilizations

Statue of a Roman soldier

Videos:

Roman Empire

Decline of Europe and criticisms of the West

Argentina: The danger of a welfare state and socialism

Javier Milei

"Argentina's economic decline was not a sudden event but a prolonged period of stagnation and contraction, spanning several decades. While the country experienced a period of impressive growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it began to lose its economic momentum around the mid-20th century. Some periods of relative stability and even growth occurred, but the overall trend has been one of decline relative to other nations."[50]

"Argentina's economic decline is a complex issue with a long history, spanning decades rather than a single event. While the country has experienced periods of significant growth, it has also faced prolonged periods of economic instability and contraction. Recent data indicates a contraction in GDP for six consecutive quarters, though some analysts predict a potential rebound in the fourth quarter of 2025."[51]

"Argentina's decline is a complex issue rooted in a combination of factors including political instability, inconsistent economic policies, and a reliance on volatile international markets. While Argentina experienced a period of rapid growth in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, its economic and political fortunes have fluctuated dramatically, leading to a significant decline in its relative prosperity."[52]

"Missed Opportunities:

Despite this initial success, Argentina failed to diversify its economy and establish a stable political system. (See also: Essay: Diversified economies, resilience and stability)

Political Instability:

The country has been plagued by political instability, including numerous military coups, which disrupted economic development."[53]

Eastern Orthodox countries, and their history (Under the Mongols, etc.), statism, capitalism and the West

Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow, Russia


USA crime stats by region

Crime stats by zip code

Nationalism and countries overestimating their role in history

Most honest cultures

Most honest cultures: Prevalence of businesses asked to pay bribes by government officials

Most honest cultures - wallet experiment

2019

5 out of 6 countries in the top quartile are Protestant.

5 out of 6 countries in the top quartile are Protestant. "Today, the church encourages Catholics to nourish themselves with God’s word, and has some of the best Scripture scholars in the world. But sadly polls show that Catholics still read the Scriptures less than their Protestant brothers and sisters. Only 17 percent of Catholics read the Bible every day as compared to 38 percent of Protestants."[54] Conservative (talk) 22:33, December 4, 2023 (EST)

Liturgically, the top countries are more Lutheran and practice an evangelical Catholic type of Protestantism.

Reader's Digest - Wallet experiment

2023

Most honest cultures - wallet experiment.jpg

2013: Wallet test (Reader's Digest)

Wallet experiment: Other study

Finland: A country with a Protestant heritage and a most sensible prison system and society

Negative effects of wars. Frequency and magnitude of wars from 1946 to 2017

"There is no instance of a country having benefited from prolonged warfare." - Sun Tzu

Economic:

Videos:

Social:

Domestic violence and other violence increases in countries engaging in war. "Studies have shown that domestic violence—which disproportionately affects women—increases during and after war as stress levels rise, families are displaced, and traumatized combatants return home. This can lead to physical, psychological and sexual violence erupting inside the home."[55]

Violence

America's billionaires

Donald Trump

World happiness reports

World happiness reports 2024

In 2024, the USA was the 23th most happiest country in the world out of the 195 countries in the world.[56] Thus, the USA is among the top 11.8% of countries in happiness - even under the Biden Administration which is one of the most incompetent presidencies in USA's history. Trump is favored to win the presidency in 2024 according the political betting markets and the economy was better under Trump.[57]

World Happiness Report 2024: USA, China, Russia, religiosity and happiness

See: User:Conservative/ World Happiness Report 2024: USA, China, Russia, religiosity and happiness

Essay



Don't worry. Be happy!

See: Upbeat songs

Culture, politics and fashion

Obesity in the world

World obesity

Obesity in the United States

UK

References

  1. ↑ The Christian origin of hospitals
  2. ↑ Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty, Or Give Me Death" Speech
  3. ↑ Stephen Kotkin on Putin, Russia and the West
  4. ↑ Countries with the most cultural influence, US News and World Report
  5. ↑ Worldwide Google searches for the terms France and Russia over the last 5 years
  6. ↑ From “Compensation” to “Childhood Wonder”: Why Parents Buy, Allison J. Pugh, Working Paper No. 39, May 2002
  7. ↑ Machismo
  8. ↑ List of countries by labor productivity (Ranked using purchasing power parity)
  9. ↑ List of countries by labor productivity (Ranked using purchasing power parity)
  10. ↑ Is economic growth in middle-income countries different from low-income countries? by Barry Eichengreen, Donghyun Park, and Kwanho Shin, Brookings Institute, September 25, 2017
  11. ↑ Is Southeast Asia falling into a Latin American style “middle-income trap”?, Cambridge Working Papers in Economics, CWPE 2267. Published 9 November 2022. Website www.econ.cam.ac.uk/cwpe
  12. ↑ Demographic winter: The plague of the century, Washington Times, 2021
  13. ↑ Comparison of Partisan Bias in Liberals and Conservatives by Peter H. Ditto, Brittany S. Liu, Cory J. Clark, Sean P. Wojcik, Eric E. Chen, Rebecca H. Grady, Jared B. Celniker, and Joanne F. Zinger, Perspectives on Psychological Science, May 31, 2018
  14. ↑ Reading Too Much Political News Is Bad for Your Well-Being by Arthur C. Brooks, The Atlantic, 2020
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