Oddbean

Indeed... I was in South Africa last February for a few weeks. Everywhere I went in South Africa there were daily power outages. And outside of the wealthier white areas, it's a dirty, violent, shithole. I repeatedly had locals warn me that I shouldn't go to certain places because I might get murdered. Ukraine meanwhile, in the middle of a massive war with daily missile and drone attacks, has been able to keep the power on much more often than that, in a much colder, less sunny climate. And even in poorer parts of Ukraine you feel safe walking around and the streets are pretty clean. South Africa's GDP/capita is $7000 USD; Ukraine's GDP/capita is $4500 USD. Sure, Ukraine is getting outside support, including funds and materials to keep the electricity grid going. But still. WTF South Africa.

yeah, I actually live in a remote area in Brazil so less crime and easier in the pollution but end up having the usual issues of remote countryside areas, bad internet, power outages, too few hospitals, ... our countries, like South Africa and Brazil, and others like it, have the opposite of a money issue, the problem is no matter if infinite amounts of money come in, the people are not educated enough to know what to do. Not only by electing politicians with zero managements skills but also the people themselves do not know what to do with money, they do not know how to invest, what is entrepreneurship, so nothing progresses, zero prosperity, etc. So live like animals in the end And your post is a good example that the people in Ukraine are continuing to building businesses even in their current situation, aka the generators or the bungee jumping, adapting and overcoming, the "libertarian feel", which drives progress in the end