The historical data show that:
A)the world's poorest countries have remained in poverty
B)the world's richest countries have no guarantee that they will stay the richest
C)living standards have not varied widely from country to country
D)the world's poorest countries could always catch up with the world's richest countries

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Historical data show that the world's richest countries have not always remained the richest and there is no guarantee that they will continue to be so. For example, in the 19th century, countries like China and India were among the richest, but their economies went through periods of decline while countries like the United States and Japan gained in economic power. This demonstrates that economic fortunes can change over time, and there is no fixed way for a particular country to remain wealthy.

The Historical Data Show That