# [Arguable] Factories or Fiber? What Will Actually Make Developing Countries Rich?

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Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/network-capital-18352/arguable-factories-or-fiber-what-will-actually-make-developing-countries-rich.md
Podcast: [Network Capital](https://stenobird.com/podcast/network-capital-18352)
Published: 2026-04-23T18:14:06+00:00
Episode link: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/network-capital/episodes/Arguable-Factories-or-Fiber--What-Will-Actually-Make-Developing-Countries-Rich-e3ic8g7
Audio file: https://anchor.fm/s/1f387a38/podcast/play/118939591/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-3-23%2F1b008823-649a-29bb-5008-c49e1cf047db.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/network-capital-18352/episodes/arguable-factories-or-fiber-what-will-actually-make-developing-countries-rich
Duration seconds: 2863

## Resource

For decades, the classic path to prosperity seemed clear: build factories, create jobs, grow exports, and lift millions out of poverty. But in a world shaped by AI, automation, and the internet, that model no longer feels so certain. We debate whether developing countries should still bet on manufacturing, or whether services offer a faster and more realistic route to growth. Along the way, we explore jobs, inequality, education, globalization, and whether the future belongs to industrial powerhouses or digitally connected economies.

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## Transcript

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