Dear Readers, Can you indulge me with a little survey?
Please tell me which you think is more probable:
(A) a country succeeds at economic development, or
(B) a country succeeds at economic development with a wise and capable leadership.
Please answer ONLY whether you think (A) or (B) is more probable, with no elaboration, just post a comment on this post saying “(A)” or “(B).”
Thanks, Bill Easterly



225 Comments
(A)
(A)
(B)
A
(a)
For the record, my interpretation of “wise and capable leadership” assumes that the wise will be a lot like the wise authors of The Federalist Papers, and NOT the “wise” authors of public works programs.
B
A
(A)
B
(B)
Presuming wise and capable means commited to control corruption.
B
(A)
B
(A)
A
(A)
A
A
equally likely
A
Equally likely
(A)
equally likely
(A)
A
(A)
A
(A)
A
B.
(where “wise and capable” = “no egregious rent seeking”!)
B
B
a
(B)
(A)
(A)
A
(A)
(A)
(B)
B
(B)
A
A
(A)
A
(A)
b
A