In 2015, Saudi Arabia experienced a shift in its ultra-conservative leadership, leading to significant policy changes. Women gained more rights, such as driving and accessing government services without male guardian permission. The country also reopened movie theaters after a 35-year ban. The text then transitions into a discussion about the fictional country of Wakanda from Marvel's Black Panther. It critiques Wakanda's economy, highlighting its reliance on the rare resource Vibranium and comparing it to real-world economies that depend on single resources. The paradox of plenty and command and control economies are explored, suggesting that Wakanda's economic model is unsustainable and could lead to future challenges if alternatives to Vibranium are developed.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. Saudi Arabia's ultra-conservative leadership changed hands in 2015.
2. The Saudi Arabian government has relaxed many of its restrictive policies in the past year.
3. Women in Saudi Arabia are now allowed to drive and access government services without needing permission from a male guardian.
4. Saudi Arabia has opened movie theaters for the first time since the 1980s.
5. Vibranium is a super-strong metal in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.
6. Vibranium is not from Earth, but from a meteorite that crashed into Wakanda.
7. The Paradox of Plenty is a real-world theory that explains why countries with massive natural resources often have struggling economies.
8. The Paradox of Plenty suggests that countries with a single valuable resource tend to have less democracy.
9. Examples of countries with command and control economies include Saudi Arabia, Russia, and Venezuela.
10. In command and control economies, the leadership controls the money and often uses it for personal gain.
11. The Soviet Union sold off its natural gas reserves but used the profits for weapons research instead of helping its people.
12. Venezuela's economy is heavily reliant on oil and has suffered from shortages and inflation.
13. When a resource becomes scarce, people often find alternatives.
14. The price of whale oil became too expensive, leading to the development of kerosene as an alternative.
15. The development of fiber optic cables replaced copper wiring due to its scarcity and high price.
16. Tesla developed electric cars as an alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles.
17. The US switched from sugar cane to corn syrup due to the high price of sugar cane.
18. The price of vibranium is extremely high, making it a target for black market smuggling.
19. Tony Stark is studying vibranium to replicate it or find a better alternative.
20. Wakanda's economy is heavily reliant on vibranium and lacks a backup plan.
21. The country's command and control economy means that the rulers are responsible for providing everything for their citizens.
22. When vibranium becomes obsolete, the entire system will fall apart.
23. Killmonger's takeover of Wakanda demonstrates the challenges of a command and control economy.
24. T'Challa's line about the world catching up with Wakanda's technology is a reference to the country's need to open its borders and adapt to changing circumstances.
25. Wakanda's decision to open its borders and share its knowledge and technology with the rest of the world is a step towards a more sustainable economy.