[vivekd]

Maybe not all but for the most part yes I do think software engineers in San Francisco are by in large more productive than software engineers in Kansas city.

Just like I think finance professionals in NYC are more productive than finance guys elsewhere.

There's a culture around that in those places and opportunities and tools that promote excellence in those fields in a way that is very difficult for someone acting alone.

Just like it's very difficult for a kid in Africa to become a Olympic runner while there are many African American sprinters too, the tools and training and instruction and mentorship is simply not available, the opportunity is not there for him to be able to reach his potential. And that often matters more than innate ability

Workers in many poorer countries are overcoming comparatively more barriers just to work, while in rich countries we have systems set up to help us be as productive as possible