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Discover why colder nations often thrive while hotter ones face challenges. Plus, explore the surprising reasons why wealthy countries may be headed for decline and the unique rules in South Korea that leave foreigners shocked!
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00:00For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit increase in a country's average temperature, the GDP per capita drops by at least
00:081.1%.
00:09To put it simply, with every step you take from the North Pole to the equator, not only do you
00:16get hotter, but you also get poorer.
00:20Even though life in freezing cold countries can seem miserable, 74.2% of the world's billionaires are concentrated in
00:28the global north.
00:30And there are at least four theories explaining that.
00:34The simplest theory is tied to biology.
00:37Cold weather is believed to keep germs away, leading to better health and productivity.
00:42Sounds good, but I'll challenge that later.
00:45Next, there's the sloth theory from ancient Greece, and it's more about climate in general.
00:52Greeks believed their ideal weather made them wealthier, while hotter regions were seen as less creative.
00:58The third idea is based on economic and anthropological studies.
01:04You see, experts noticed some time ago that colder countries have inclusive institutions that offer equal job and life opportunities
01:12and protect markets and private property.
01:15Naturally, such conditions promote healthy competition and boost wealth.
01:20The last idea is tightly connected to the previous one.
01:24Long story short, richer countries tend to distribute money better because they're more inclusive.
01:31Poorer nations often have extractive institutions where a powerful elite controls wealth.
01:37While all of them seem plausible, the truth is, these ideas are borderline insane.
01:45Well, you know the theory claiming that cold climates eliminates germs and the population of colder countries doesn't get so
01:52sick?
01:53I don't want to be the bearer of bad news, but the cold actually makes germs thrive.
01:59In the cold, we tend to stay inside with the whole house shut, so we share germs with each other
02:05more easily.
02:06Not only that, but during winter, the air is drier, creating the perfect environment for the flu virus to flourish.
02:13Humans are also more resistant to viruses and bacteria from their own environment because the constant contact with them makes
02:21our immune system stronger.
02:23If you look back at your history classes, you might remember that most British people struggled with the weather and
02:29bacteria found in America,
02:31while Native Americans themselves were mostly fine.
02:35And what about the sloth theory?
02:38Sorry, I don't mean it to sound offensive, but some specialists, ahem, they claim that, ahem, people in hotter countries
02:46tend to be lazier.
02:48But the truth is, the sun doesn't make us work less.
02:52Yes, the sun can make you a bit slower because you can dehydrate.
02:56But you see, the human body is biologically adapted to the climate of the place they're born in.
03:02This means that if you live in Canada, for example, you can endure the cold just fine.
03:08But Brazilians will probably handle hot days better than you.
03:12But if the sloth theory was true, how would you explain that people in Colombia work about 200 hours a
03:20year more than those from the United States?
03:23In fact, if you live in Cambodia, Myanmar, or Mexico, you're bound to work more than anyone in the world.
03:31Besides, hotter countries have a genius way to fight off laziness.
03:35It's called siesta.
03:38After lunch, it's normal to feel a bit sleepy.
03:41And if you have heavier meals, like the Spanish and Italians do, you'll get extra slow.
03:46This is why after lunch they usually have a siesta, also known as a quick nap, which improves your memory
03:53and thinking skills.
03:55It may sound like a siesta makes you work less, but people who nap after lunch simply work at different
04:02hours of the day.
04:03While you make shorter lunch breaks and go home at 6 p.m., in Spain, the lunch break lasts two
04:09hours and the workday ends at 8 p.m.
04:13They work when it's not so hot outside and even get to take a power nap.
04:19The past is also crowded with people who lived rich lives despite the scorching sun.
04:24The ancient Egypt civilization may have existed thousands of years ago, but they were one of the richest civilizations ever,
04:32even though they lived in a place that was super hot and super dry.
04:38We also have the Aztecs, who lived in Mexico back when Mexico didn't exist yet.
04:44This region is not so famous for its cold weather, I can tell you that.
04:48But the Aztec civilization still managed to have a capital that was bigger than London, Paris, and Madrid of the
04:55time.
04:56On top of that, many of the inventions we have today that make a lot of people rich were created
05:02thanks to math and science.
05:04Two things born in hot places, like Mesopotamia and India.
05:10Now, to make all those economic and anthropological studies sound simpler, let's start with the most obvious part.
05:17It's true that hotter countries usually make money out of their natural resources.
05:22They don't have such strong industries, and the money is concentrated in the hands of the elite.
05:27All of this reduces the GDP, that thing that estimates whether a country is wealthy or not.
05:33Remember we said richer countries have inclusive institutions?
05:37These institutions are basically laws that make sure people have equal job and life opportunities, including nice houses and a
05:45good salary.
05:47Poor countries are not very good at this inclusive institution thing, but it's not by choice.
05:53This is actually a consequence of the Age of Exploration.
05:57In case you were sleeping during your history classes, let me remind you.
06:02The Age of Exploration is that time between the 15th and 17th centuries,
06:06when many kingdoms in Europe were exploring the seas and setting up colonies all over the world.
06:12I know it feels like this was a long, long time ago, but many countries that were colonies back then
06:18only became independent during the 20th and 21st century.
06:23This is why many poor countries don't have solid industries and markets,
06:28because their institutions and laws date back to when they were still colonies,
06:32and their years as colonies depleted resources and didn't provide a good infrastructure.
06:38Besides, saying that private property reduces the income and inequality gap is kind of absurd.
06:45It's true that developing countries like Brazil and South Africa are highly unequal.
06:50But in the U.S., for example, 1% of the richest people in the country make 139 times more
06:58money than the poorest part of the population.
07:01And there were more than 700,000 homeless people in 2024.
07:06Besides, 1% of the world's population is wealthier than the rest of humankind put together.
07:14If inclusive institutions were really that powerful in richer countries,
07:18then there wouldn't be more than 1 billion people living in acute poverty all over the world.
07:23There's no point in saying that private property makes everyone's lives better
07:27if people can't even afford to have a house in the first place.
07:31And using the GDP to calculate the wealth of a country is not exactly the best way to understand poverty,
07:37because the GDP only considers how much money the industry itself makes.
07:43It ignores, for example, the question of whether people who work in those industries have good jobs
07:49if they are well paid and have a good life.
07:51The GDP also ignores inequality, which means it ignores those inclusive institutions we mentioned before.
08:00In the United States, there are about 835 billionaires.
08:06But 11% of the American population is still very poor.
08:10So my hot take here is that inclusive institutions are not that inclusive.
08:16And that money is not that well distributed in the first place.
08:21Different cultures also have different concepts of what it means to be wealthy.
08:26In London, for example, being able to afford food, clothes and shelter does not make you rich.
08:33To them, you're simply surviving.
08:36If you want to be truly wealthy in London, you might have to hire a housekeeper,
08:40buy a horse and have a personal Pilates instructor.
08:44But to the Awa or the Yanomami tribes, money doesn't even exist.
08:49They produce only the necessary.
08:52And if they have a surplus, they will trade with other tribes.
08:56I guess the fact that poor countries are all located closer to the equator line
09:00is not just a simple historical coincidence.
09:03So it turns out that so-called rich countries are facing a big problem.
09:08People are not having kids.
09:10Not enough, at least.
09:11On average, women need to have two children to keep things balanced.
09:15But they're only having one, or none at all.
09:19This issue comes down to the fertility rate,
09:21or simply the average number of kids a woman is expected to have in her lifetime.
09:26When that number's too low,
09:27it means more people are passing away in these countries than being born.
09:31And that can destroy the economy.
09:34Think of a rich country.
09:36The U.S., Germany, Japan.
09:38Great!
09:38Pick any wealthy nation you like.
09:40And I can promise you one thing.
09:42Its fertility rate is below 2.1.
09:45And that's a problem.
09:47Here's why.
09:48Meet Mary and John.
09:50And over here, we've got Jack and Lucy.
09:52That's four people total.
09:54Now, both couples get married.
09:55Mary and John have two kids.
09:57But Jack and Lucy only have one.
10:00Now, what does that mean?
10:01Simple math.
10:02We're down by one person.
10:04And if this keeps happening,
10:06generation after generation,
10:08the population starts to shrink.
10:10The situation gets pretty scary when we zoom in on certain countries.
10:15Take Spain, Italy, or Poland.
10:17These countries have some of the lowest fertility rates in the European Union,
10:21with women there having, on average, just one kid.
10:25And that's a big problem.
10:27Because it drags down entire economies.
10:29Picture a triangle.
10:31Young people and workers at the bottom,
10:33and the elderly at the top.
10:35In many rich countries,
10:36that bottom part is shrinking fast,
10:38with fewer babies being born each year.
10:40So, it's like this triangle is flipping upside down.
10:44Fewer young folks and workers,
10:46but more and more older people.
10:47With fewer workers and more retirees,
10:50the economy struggles to stay balanced.
10:53It's like the domino effect.
10:55Fewer people working means fewer people paying taxes.
10:59Meanwhile, the older population at the top keeps growing.
11:02And now we have a way bigger group,
11:04depending on pensions and stuff like Social Security.
11:07So, we're left asking,
11:09who's going to pay for all these retirements?
11:12Some countries are in hotter water than others.
11:15And South Korea is really feeling the heat.
11:18They've got more and more people getting older,
11:20while fewer and fewer babies are being born.
11:23In fact, they've got the lowest fertility rate in the world.
11:26In 2023, it hit rock bottom.
11:290.72 births per woman.
11:32Now, personally, I don't know how you can have three-quarters of a kid.
11:36But hey, that's statistics for you.
11:38Meanwhile, if things keep going like this,
11:41Korea's population could shrink by half by 2100.
11:46Over the last 20 years,
11:48their authorities have invested at the equivalent of $286 billion in this issue.
11:53And they've rolled out a bunch of incentives to turn things around.
11:57First up, pocket money.
11:59If a married couple in Korea decides to have their first kid,
12:02the government hands over about $10,000 split into monthly payments to help out.
12:07While that might sound impressive,
12:09it's only about three times the average monthly wage.
12:12And in Seoul, one of the most expensive cities in the world,
12:16that doesn't go very far.
12:19Next, a home.
12:20Paying rent in Seoul is insane,
12:22but the government doesn't want people to leave the capital because of it.
12:26So they're stepping in.
12:28Recently, they've promised to give families around $300 a month to help with housing.
12:33Until the kid turns two.
12:35Then again, $300 seems great,
12:37but it only covers about 11% of the rent for a three-bedroom apartment in the city center.
12:44And last but not least, health care.
12:47Hospital bills are covered,
12:48but the couple must be married, on paper and everything.
12:52South Korea came up with all this to fix the problem.
12:56Otherwise, their population might get older,
12:58poorer, and more dependent on others for care.
13:01But when you think about it,
13:03all these incentives really come down to one thing – giving out cash.
13:07Even so, their demographic problem hasn't gotten any better.
13:11So the authorities had to come up with more creative solutions,
13:15like offering jobs with flexible hours for parents with kids under 5.
13:19And they can borrow things like toys or strollers from the government,
13:23totally for free.
13:24So, why don't women want to become mothers?
13:27There's a bunch of reasons.
13:29But one of the most important is work.
13:32Women are getting more education and grabbing more opportunities in the job market than ever before.
13:37But a lot of jobs have crazy hours, with people working late every single day.
13:42So many women get stuck in that cycle – waking up early, going to work, coming home late, and sleeping.
13:49Then it all starts over the next day.
13:51They don't have time to meet a partner, and even less time to raise someone.
13:57In fact, education in general is one of the biggest reasons why birth rates are dropping.
14:02Spending so many years in school, then in college,
14:06means women are pushing back the age they have their first kid.
14:09Once they finish their education,
14:11they often want to focus on work and building their careers before starting a family.
14:15So they're not becoming moms in their teens or early 20s anymore.
14:20And by the time they hit 30, things aren't much better.
14:24Sure, they might finally land a stable job,
14:27but most employment policies still don't offer enough support for childcare.
14:31But it's not only education.
14:34Younger generations are getting delayed in, well, everything.
14:37I mean, it's way harder for them to tick off all the adulting boxes,
14:42like having a well-paying job or buying a nice house.
14:45And these things are usually a big part of whether people decide to start a family or not.
14:51Another reason people aren't having kids?
14:54Putting a new human into this world is expensive and time-consuming.
14:58The average childcare costs in Australia, for example, have gone up faster than inflation.
15:04School tuition, even for public schools, takes a big chunk out of parents' budgets.
15:09Think about it.
15:10Computers, uniforms, field trips, extracurricular activities.
15:14All that adds up to the cost of financing someone's education.
15:18Over 13 years, parents spend over $80,000 on public education.
15:22And if we're talking about private schools, that number jumps up to almost $350,000.
15:29And don't worry, these costs are just for one kid.
15:33Now imagine having two or three.
15:36So what is the solution?
15:38Well, there are two ways to tackle the problem that don't involve pushing the population to have more kids.
15:45Nations can keep their population healthier and employed longer, like what Singapore is doing.
15:50They're putting a lot of effort into raising the retirement age, offering midlife training,
15:55and encouraging companies to hire older workers, like those over 69.
16:01Another way is to encourage people from other countries to come in, especially young ones who are ready to work.
16:07That's, for example, the strategy Canada uses.
16:10Now, if the goal is really to get women to have more kids, a lot of countries use the baby
16:16bonus strategy.
16:17Basically, giving money and benefits to families, just like South Korea does.
16:22The problem is that some experts say it is pretty ineffective, as financial incentives don't address the complexity of the
16:29issue.
16:30For them, what these wealthy countries need to do is offer better career and housing opportunities for young people.
16:37Like giving incentives for companies to offer more flexible hours or work-from-home options for young parents.
16:44They also need to push strategies to lower the cost of housing, especially in big cities.
16:50Plus, they need to focus more on the aging population, using technological innovations to support them.
16:56That would help not just parents, but families as a whole.
17:00So, what do you think?
17:03South Korea has a rich culture, but some of their museums are far from being traditional.
17:09They even have a place called Poo-Poo Land.
17:12You got me right.
17:14This museum is all about feces, human gases, and more.
17:18It's three floors of wacky and colorful exhibits that will make your Instagram followers go wild.
17:24The bravest ones can eat out of a fake toilet pot while in this museum.
17:28But the real fun begins when it's time to leave.
17:31You'll have to slide your way out through a dark room that mimics your digestive system.
17:37South Korea houses the blackest building you'll ever see.
17:41The Vantablack Hyundai Pavilion is covered with Vantablack paint, which is like the ninja of all paints.
17:48It's super black and reflects less than 1% of light.
17:52The pavilion was created for the crisp, white backdrop of the 2018 Winter Olympics.
17:58Standing at 33 feet tall and 115 feet long, this building sucks up over 99.96% of light.
18:07So, it's as black as a black hole.
18:11South Korea is known for its awesome cafe culture, and their Starbucks outlets are no exception.
18:18Take Starbucks Wave Seoul, for example.
18:21It literally looks like it's floating on water.
18:23This cool spot is located in Seoul Wave Arts Center, a place where you can enjoy art galleries and exhibitions.
18:30If you feel like you've seen this place before, it might be because K-pop stars have filmed music videos
18:36here.
18:39Back in 2011, Tesco, the British chain, set up virtual grocery stores in subway stations and bus stops in Seoul.
18:46It's like shopping in a real store, but on your phone.
18:50Commuters can scan and buy virtual items that will be delivered right to their door.
18:55Imagine walking into a subway station and seeing walls filled with pictures of food and other items you can buy.
19:01You can just scan special QR codes with your Home Plus app, and boom!
19:06Your groceries are on their way to your house.
19:08Order by 1pm, and you'll have your stuff that same day.
19:14You must have heard about the main star of Korean cuisine.
19:17I'm talking kimchi.
19:20The real question is, where is the element of surprise?
19:23This zesty, tangy, sweet, and sour dish has been around for over 1,500 years, and comes in over 200
19:30different varieties across the country.
19:33You'll never run out of new kimchi dishes to try.
19:36It can be served as a side dish, main dish, snack, appetizer, and if you're feeling daring, even a dessert.
19:43Ever heard of kimchi and banana?
19:45Yeah, that was actually a thing for a while.
19:48By the way, they say kimchi might be perfectly matched with cheese.
19:52Actually, kimchi can be matched with pretty much anything.
19:56They even produced kimchi-flavored chocolate in Korea.
20:01Seoul, the buzzing hub of South Korea, is jam-packed with around 10 million people.
20:06You'll find narrow alleyways and bustling streets at every turn, making personal space a rare commodity.
20:12If you're strolling through the city, expect to dodge pedestrians on the sidewalk, squeeze onto crowded subway trains, and feel
20:20a bit cramped compared to the wide-open spaces in the U.S.
20:24South Koreans are pros at sharing public areas, so don't be surprised if someone bumps into you without apologizing.
20:32It's just part of the hustle and bustle of city life, especially in busier areas.
20:37Just roll with the punches, literally, and enjoy the lively atmosphere of Seoul.
20:43In South Korea, taking off your shoes is kind of a big deal.
20:47Some locals might even get a little miffed if you make a fuss about it.
20:51Most traditional restaurants will require you to kick off your shoes before chowing down.
20:57Make sure to keep an eye out for a shoe shelf.
20:59It's also a good idea to wear easy-on-easy-off shoes like sandals.
21:04And please, for the love of all things holy, check your socks for holes.
21:08Nobody wants to see that.
21:12PDA is not really a thing in South Korea, even in hip cities like Seoul.
21:17You might catch a glimpse of couples holding hands while strolling the streets, but that's usually where the lovey-dovey
21:23stuff ends.
21:24Public displays of affection make South Koreans a bit uncomfortable.
21:29If you're a tourist, keep them at a minimum, even in party zones like Hongdae or Sincheon.
21:36Here's a tip for when you're dining out in South Korea.
21:40Don't wait around for the waitstaff to come to you.
21:42They won't.
21:43Instead, give a shout of Yogi-yo to get their attention.
21:47Yep, it means over here in Korean.
21:50And if you happen to come across a self-service bar, don't be shy about picking up your own water
21:55and utensils.
21:56It's all about DIY in some places.
21:59So get ready to take matters into your own hands.
22:04South Koreans are not afraid to dive deep with their questions.
22:08I mean, people you barely know may ask about your personal life or how much dough you bring in.
22:14So if someone starts getting all up in your personal biz or you feel like they're crossing the line,
22:19just remember, they're probably just curious and looking to connect.
22:23Don't sweat it.
22:25They're not being rude, just eager to get the convo going.
22:30In the US, it's totally cool to ask chefs to switch up ingredients for allergies or preferences.
22:36But in South Korea, it's a different story.
22:39Traditional Korean dishes are cooked up with specific ingredients for hours.
22:44So don't expect them to just switch out meat for veggies.
22:47It's not that chefs are being difficult, it's just that they put a lot of effort into making that perfect
22:53dish.
22:54So when you're chowing down in South Korea, make sure you pick something that matches your dietary needs.
23:01In South Korea, toilets are seriously next-level cool.
23:05They've got cozy heated seats, they actually play a little jam for you while you do your business,
23:10and they've got these handy wands that spray warm water to give you a nice, refreshing clean.
23:16Some of them even have built-in dryers that blow warm air to get you all nice and dry afterwards.
23:23Just like any other country, South Korea has some issues.
23:28They're facing a spy camera problem.
23:30It's still a big issue, despite tough laws.
23:33It seems like spy cameras are way too easy to get a hold of,
23:37with students even using them to film teachers and classmates.
23:41Efforts to regulate them haven't been very successful yet,
23:44but people are pushing for stricter rules and penalties.
23:49Ever been to Italy and witnessed the lively debates that turn out to be
23:53just friendly conversations with a side of dramatic arm gestures?
23:57Well, get ready for a similar revelation in Korea.
24:01Korean conversations are full of deep voices, power-packed expressions,
24:06and the occasional shock factor.
24:08That lady at the restaurant who seems like she's about to yell at you?
24:12Don't worry.
24:13She's just super excited to show you the menu.
24:16It may seem a bit overwhelming at first, but trust me,
24:20Koreans are some of the friendliest folks you'll ever meet.
24:23Soak in the melodic flow of their language
24:25and let yourself be swept away
24:27by the welcoming vibes of this vibrant culture.
24:32Still, even though the Korean language is expressive,
24:35when you hop on a bus or train in South Korea,
24:38don't be surprised if it's quieter than a library.
24:41Locals are all about their headphones,
24:44jamming out to their favorite tunes instead of chit-chatting.
24:47It's a stark contrast to the West,
24:50where everyone's gabbing away
24:51or catching up with loved ones on the phone.
24:54So if you're cruising through Seoul
24:56and feel the urge to crank up the volume
24:58and start a lively convo, think again.
25:01Being loud on public transit is a dead giveaway
25:04that you're not from around these parts.
25:07While no one will hush you outright,
25:09expect some disapproving glares and whispers
25:12from the elderly squad if you take it too far.
25:15Better keep it cool
25:16and blend in like a true South Korean, right?
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