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Comment by crusso | Hacker News Reader

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crusso·

That's a pretty lame thesis.

By that logic we should see the most innovation coming out of the worst places on earth.

How's that innovation coming out of the Sudan going? Lots of things that suck there that could be fixed.

What, Greece doesn't have a load of problems that should drive innovation?

America has a culture of individualism, problem solving, and allowing those who solve problems to keep the spoils of their market victories.

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Maybe America sucks just enough for there to be problems to innovate, while still being able to support said innovators.

There's a fair ammount of (necessity-inspired) innovation coming out of Africa: http://www.economist.com/node/21560912

Haven't you seen all of the news stories about Indian firms trying to make cheaper smartphones, tablets, and low-gas smartcars?

Of course, education, immigration and a legal framework without a high degree of fraud are also important.

I don't think individualism would be a major factor.

Change, including solutions, comes from an unwillingness to adapt oneself to the status quo. Innovation is abhorrent to conformity, and conformity puts a deathly pallor on creativity. A tolerance for quirkiness is essential, embracing it is better.

> I don't think individualism would be a major factor.

There are many countries which satisfy your former criteria yet lack this; none of them have the same innovation economy that the United States possesses.

I can concede this. I don't really know the answer. But individualism alone doesn't seem to be enough.

Their are plenty of artist and individualist in Germany which has a very large art culture. Would Germany be considered one of the more innovative countries in the world?

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