It is said that the reason organisms die rather than self-repair is the impact of parasites...Looks to be true of nations too.
Look at all the mega-millionaires and billionaires created in the last decade and where they got their money. Rest assured it was *not* by great invention or great productivity, but by creaming the wealth generated by many others.
Good on China for making stuff and educating their children properly at least. It remains to be seen if their own parasite controls are better than ours.