Lootman wrote:Arborbridge wrote:XFool wrote:But it should only ever be expected to be an "ironclad rule" if ever other relevant condition in the two societies were identical.
You are correct - comparing countries is absolutely fraught with difficulties as there are so many variables and differences to account for.
We can all speculate and have our pet theories, but that is just what they are. Indeed, I've notice various protaganists (no doubt including me) seize on a particular news item which backs up a POV - but we are all guilty of being simplistic. We grab a "particular" and try to "generalise". .
No doubt, but then people claim that New Zealand has had good numbers because it "sealed its borders".
So it looks like sealing borders works except when it doesn't.
That exactly supports what I wrote.