Whilst on the subject of how to tease apart culture, government and economic outcomes, a typically marvellous and succinct quote from Uncle Milt as cited in PJ O'Rourke's Eat the Rich [pg 69] -

A Scandinavian economist once proudly said to free-market advocate Milton Friedman, "In Scandinavia we have no poverty."  And Milton Friedman replied, "That's interesting, because in America among Scandinavians, we have no poverty, either."