The Economic Equation: Limited Resources for Unlimited Wants

A nation's political system is a good representation of what the citizens allow whether by action or inaction. A more intelligent population will overall likely make better decisions and have better systems in place, which lead to economic progress in solving the basic economic equation, although can it really be solved? maybe a post scarcity society kind of situation. But in any case in order to have progress, in the economic sense by introducing more efficiency into the system, there will always be a short term sacrifice, of capital, energy, time, etc. That sacrifice is an investment, for a better future.

At a fundamental level, increasing the level of intelligence in a population would have the greatest return on investment and lead to faster progress.

And then there is power, those with power who have more control tend to also have more inertia, wanting to resist change unfavorable to themselves. In the same way we self-sabotage our best intentions at good health such as good exercise and good diets by indulging in negative behaviors, those in control are unable to resist temptations. Lack of longterm vision and ideals leads to a society worse off.

Rather than measuring a societies standard of living, I think that measuring the degree of freedom could be more meaningful. The range of each individuals freedom being a spectrum, from no freedom(no control, slavery) to all powerful(god-like power) although the all powerful isn't really attainable in a group of individuals, there will always be movement towards an equilibrium.