Derik Graham, chapter 13, question 6/3

The part of this chapter that was most memorable and significant to me was Wheelan's retelling of Bill Gates's speech in Saudi Arabia. The title of the subsection was named "Women Power" and it is very aptly written because women are powerful. Gates's note brings up the conclusion that the Saudi's elimination of half of their work force and half of their human capital is the cause of their economic difference to the worlds top ten. This example led to me to question whether or not cultural differences between nations accounts at all for any disparities between them and I came to the conclusion that yes it did. To me a cultural segregation of gender effects more than just human capital but also the productivity of the country because there is a smaller labor force, and it also inhibits the countries progress forward in technology and wealth (which both stem from human capital). I think that until cultural divides shown by this example are irradicated, that the world as a whole will suffer economically.