I think we agree in sentiment, but I don’t want to understate the effect. Almost everyone in rich countries is more productive than almost everyone in poor countries. A subsistence farmer living on less than $1 per day can move to the US and earn $54 per day mowing Maurice Hilleman’s lawn. When you are surrounded by productive people and are swimming in capital, it’s not hard to be more productive than the medium earthling.
ETA: Rereading my comment and your reply: you’re right. My comment switches between a fungible idea of people, who are more productive some places than other, and a specific person (Maurice Hilleman) who is more productive than other persons in his environment. I’ll think about rephrasing.
I think we agree in sentiment, but I don’t want to understate the effect. Almost everyone in rich countries is more productive than almost everyone in poor countries. A subsistence farmer living on less than $1 per day can move to the US and earn $54 per day mowing Maurice Hilleman’s lawn. When you are surrounded by productive people and are swimming in capital, it’s not hard to be more productive than the medium earthling.
ETA: Rereading my comment and your reply: you’re right. My comment switches between a fungible idea of people, who are more productive some places than other, and a specific person (Maurice Hilleman) who is more productive than other persons in his environment. I’ll think about rephrasing.
Yes, all agreed.