Poor Countries, Rich Countries

My fellow Forbes.com contributor Ana Swanson asks the question, "Would You Rather Be Rich in a Poor Country, or Poor in a Rich Country?" Her article has some startling statistics. For example, the poorest five percent of Americans have incomes higher than 60 percent of the world's population.

In my speeches I often hear from people who are focused on rankings (are we number one?) rather than levels. I ask them, which would be better for America?

  • If Canada were as poor as Mexico, or
  • If Mexico were as rich as Canada?

I know which I think would be better. How about you?