Archive - From Poverty to Progress

Social Mobility vs. Upward Mobility

And why Upward Mobility is far more important

Published on From Poverty to Progress • 19 hrs ago

How Belgium transformed from poverty to progress

The First Successful Industrialization Outside Britain

May 7 • Michael Magoon

Evidence for progress: UN Human Development Index

The UN HDI, the most widely-used metric from measuring progress in developing countries shows remarkable progress since 1990.

Published on From Poverty to Progress • May 6

Does Geography Explain Economic Development?

Testing the Leading Theories of Geographic Development

May 5 • Michael Magoon

How Britain Transformed Hong Kong into a Dynamic Commercial Society

How trade, institutions, and empire enabled a rapid transition from poverty to progress

May 4 • Michael Magoon

Why Progress and Upward Mobility should be the goal, not Equality

It is both achievable and it does more to benefit the poor, working class, and racial minorities.

Published on From Poverty to Progress • May 1

April 2026

How Japan transformed from poverty to progress

Why Japan Succeeded in the 19th Century, While Other Asian Societies Did Not

Apr 30 • Michael Magoon

Why Progress supporters should embrace natural gas

It makes sense for both the economy and the natural environment

Published on From Poverty to Progress • Apr 29

Why the Missing Middle Is Not the Real Housing Problem

Restoring the Lowest-Cost Housing Is the Key to Affordability

Apr 28 • Michael Magoon

Do Education and Human Capital Drive Economic Growth?

Mythbusting Theories of Material Progress: The Human Capital Hypothesis

Apr 27 • Michael Magoon

Why Equality of Opportunity is not enough

And why Upward Mobility is a better goal

Published on From Poverty to Progress • Apr 24

Why Was Japan the First Non-Western Nation to Industrialize?

Competing Theories and Their Limits

Apr 23 • Michael Magoon

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