Much of the growth in productivity is actually caused by old, uncompetitive firms going out of business and new, more effieicent firms, being created. It's a myth to think that poorly managed firms suddenly become well run over night. There is no competition between developed and developing economies, as Ricardo proved a very very long time ago, international trade benefits everyone through the workings of comparative advantage. The more free trade there is, the better off everyone will be. South east asian economies such as South Korea and Malaysia were poorer than African countries after world war two. The whole 'sustainability' notion is nonsense too. There are higher proven oil reserves now than there were thirty years ago, for example. Economic growth is the answer to the problem, not the problem itself.