Theos-Talk Archives (November 2010 Message tt00020)

"Advanced Economies is a term used by the International Monetary FUND (IMF) for the top group in its hierarchy of advanced economies, countries in transition, and developing countries; it includes the following 33 advanced economies: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, South Korea, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, NZ, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, UK, US; note - this group would presumably also cover the following nine smaller countries of Andorra, Bermuda, Faroe Islands, Guernsey, Holy See, Jersey, Liechtenstein, Monaco, and San Marino that are included in the more comprehensive group of "developed countries"

If we study above paragraph carefully, we find that most of the advanced economies (countries that prospered more) have major religion Christianity. Researchers know that religions greatly influence behaviors, attitudes and actions of people. The fact that most Christian countries made much faster economic progress than non-Christian countries indicates that Christian religion creates attitude among it's followers that is more helpful in making economic progress. Does that mean Christianity should be promoted to bring about prosperity? 
Similarly progress on other fronts like education, literacy, human development may be made in order to see how religions have affected in making countries progress at faster speed or slower speed.
Best
Anand Gholap