Matt Ridley, Why Some Islanders Build Better Crab Traps. Wall Street Journal
, Oct. 2, 2010. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704523604575512071789091444.html
My comment:
(a) The article mentions
Michelle A. Kline and Robert Boyd, Population size predicts technological
complexity in Oceania. Proc. R. Soc. B,* 277: 2559-2564 (August 2010). http://rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/277/1693/2559.abstract
* The abbreviation stands for "Proceedings of the Royal Society B:
Biological Sciences" of United Kingdom.
* One may read the full text (html or pdf) online free, by clicking buttons
in the right column.
(b) The article, and the report, do not talk about land-based nations such
as China.