Democracy is acceptable to neo-liberals only in so far as it does not contradict the free market. — Chang Ha-Joon

Markets have a strong tendency to reinforce the status quo. The free market dictates that countries stick to what they are already good at. Stated bluntly, this means that poor countries are supposed to continue with their current engagement in low-productivity activities. But their engagement in those activities is exactly what makes them poor. If they want to leave poverty behind, they have to defy the market and do the more difficult things that bring them higher incomes—there are no two ways about it.

Countries are poor not because their people are lazy; their people are 'lazy' because they are poor.

Manufacturing is the most important...route to prosperity.