[tyrick]

As correctly pointed out, the initial hypothesis fails a quick reality check. This hypothesis can be tossed into the play box of countless others that do not actually explain wealth (e.g. Hypothesis of Cultural Superiority, or the Hypothesis that distance from the equator is correlative). A better explanation comes from a nation's legal system (Common law vs Civil law), contract laws, and property rights. Again, the initial hypothesis offers a poor explaintion of which countries adopted which systems.

Another issue that stuck me odd: Does anyone actually believe companies such as Apple would create a country that encourages competition and entrepreneurship in leu of say - a country that protects the interests of the company itself. Arguably, Apple has not been the most reliable in this category (Take the recent issue with Bitcoin Apps).

A new country probably should not be purchased by an existing force if individual rights are of a concern. Also, I question whether this article actually provided a reason for this need. There are a few implicit statements about tech and excessive bureaucracy, but is this honestly a bases for unification of a people? Seems to be a poorly defined cause appealing to the emotions of the eager technocrat.

I share concern with an earlier commenter as to how this landed on the front page of Hacker News.