The world? No. South Korea? Yes.
The US, much like in Japan, directly pushed for technological manufacturing in SK. The US installed capitalism there, and invested heavily in the country.
From the book, "Elusive quest for growth", it was shown that out all the nations that received western aid after WWII, S. korea received the least amount of aid and western africa received the most.
foreign aid and investment is just one part of the story. 50 years ago, the Phillipines was the 2nd largest economy in the east. it has since been surpassed clearly by the "Tigers". Foreign aid and investment may have helped, marginally, but the asset of the Tigers are their native population.
They are simply more competent, and their respective economies are a result of their aggregate competency level. Their is a reason why the majority of all Bay area professionals are now East Asian with south asians being the close second. it's not foreign aid.
call it culture, call it genes. It really doesn't matter. They are smarter and more educated than the rest of the world. their vibrant economies and their high socioeconomic status is the world's diaspora are simply consequences of that.
The stats are just way too consistent across the board.