'Countries that have achieved the phase-shift (like Japan and Singapore) have diverse institutional characters, with highly differing levels of unfinished business where institutional reform is concerned, but they all share high levels of tolerance for fast-paced technical change, technology adoption and, above all, a strong culture of punishing technical failure. The meritocracy of these nations hinges on one’s conformity to new technical values.' From http://blogs.ft.com/beyond-brics/2013/03/14/guest-post-africa-stop-catching-...