Why do some nations develop and become wealthy, while others don’t? Does it have to do with a leader’s ability to create institutions and policies that work for citizens? Or do geography, culture and local traditions play the main role? These are among the interesting points we discussed yesterday evening with Annie Demirjian, Director of the Glendon School of Public & International Affairs at York University in Toronto, Canada. The course she teaches – “Why Nations Fail” is based on the bestseller with the same title by Daron Acemoglu and James Robinson.