It is a plain-faced fact that poor countries that have attempted to compete in the world market place rather than shelter themselves from it have done quite well, China and India being the most prominent.

I do not know if it is that plain faced, for 2 reasons:

1. They might be competing in a world market, but surely they are mercantilist. They are opened to exporting.

2. Regarding "doing quite well". From a GDP perspective? Surely. But regarding standard of living, working conditions? Maybe a little bit. But working (as in some cases) 7 days a week, 14 hours a day does not seem to me as an "improvement"