Huh.

Random thought: Societies behave quite a bit like people do, on a developmental scale.

Third world countries behave much like young children - the primary concerns of the people are food, water, and shelter.
Above that, once you've established food and water, the primary concerns shift to that of a juvenile - possessions and sex.
Above that, the so-called first world, the primary concerns become more philosophical - the idea of a 'good' life, etc.

- C