Different system start points for sure (representative democracy and shades of capitalism vs authoritarianism and faux capitalism), but the outcomes being similar is undeniable. Why? That’s what’s interesting. Is it solely a demographic compression story? Obviously not, as younger cohorts are optimizing for happiness due to bleakness and not grinding for unattainable dreams (in the aggregate, luck aside).

It’s hope (or lack thereof), which is a lever for aggregate motivation across a labor force participation cohort. No hope, no effort.