I read somewhere recently that democracies tend to have higher productivity and thus greater disposable income than autocracies. At first glance, China is a contra-example. But it really isn't, since it didn't start getting relatively wealthy until the autocrats eased back on the economic controls.

Abandoning central control of the economy != democracy. It is perfectly possible to have an autocratic capitalist system. See Hong Kong, where the ruler, in response to protests said, (paraphrasing), “We can’t let the hoi polloi choose their own leaders! We capitalist rulers might have to listen to them!!”

In fact, China is a perfect example as a whole. While there are exceptions,  most of the wealthy class have close and long-standing ties to the Party. Those that don’t take great care to cultivate good connections with the Party.

-- 
Bruce Johnson
University of Arizona
College of Pharmacy
Information Technology Group

Institutions do not have opinions, merely customs