Less Dependence on other Nations The discovery and exploitation of natural resources can insulate countries from the vicissitudes of the global economy and make them less dependent on other nations. This was evident in the case of many resource-rich countries during the 2008 global financial crisis when commodity prices held up relatively well compared to other asset classes. And while finding new deposits of minerals, oil, and gas is often a boon for resource-rich countries, it is not the only way that they can benefit from their natural wealth....

GDP Per Capita GDP per capita is a measure of a country’s economic output per person. A higher GDP per capita indicates a higher standard of living and a better quality of life. Countries with a high GDP per capita tend to be more happy and satisfied with their lives than those with a lower GDP per capita. Social Support A study done in 2010 found that social support is one of the most important predictors of happiness....

GDP Per Capita GDP per capita is a measure of a country’s economic output that considers the average citizen’s purchasing power. A higher GDP per capita means that the average citizen has more money to spend on goods and services. A country with a high GDP per capita is typically more powerful than a country with a low GDP per capita. There are many factors that contribute to a country’s GDP per capita, including the country’s natural resources, its workforce, and its infrastructure....

Government Policies In many countries, government policies are designed to favor the wealthy and connected at the expense of the general population. These policies create opportunities for the politically connected to enrich themselves through corruption, while ordinary citizens are left behind. The result is a vicious cycle of corruption and inequality that entrenches the power of the elites and stifles social mobility. Social History As much as we may like to think that countries are purely corrupt because of the people in power, that’s not always the case....

Improved Customer Service In the business world, time is money. The faster you can get a customer through the door and out the other side, the more customers you can see in a day. This is where improved technologies come in to play. By automating certain processes, you can speed up the customer service process and free up your employees to do other tasks. In addition, by tracking data and using analytics, you can identify problem areas and make changes to improve the customer experience....