Found in 2 comments on Hacker News
WalterBright · 2024-02-26
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Why not take a look at the book? It's an easy read, and there's far too much of interest to quote here.
The religious angle is not relevant to this discussion. It's about the emergence of free markets in the Netherlands, and the results.
As for China, China invented a number of things, but failed to apply them like the West did. For one take on why, see the book "The Triumph of the West" by Roberts
https://www.amazon.com/triumph-West-J-M-Roberts/dp/076070850...
In modern times, China adopted free markets with spectacular results.
https://www.amazon.com/triumph-West-J-M-Roberts/dp/076070850...
It's been a long time since I read it, but as I recall the theses were that individual rights and freedoms coupled with things like the scientific method is what resulted in triumph.