Step 1: Gather data online about the country in the following areas –

• Geography
• Culture
• Institutions

Step 2: Score the countries based on the three factors. Give points (3, 2, or 1) for each factor. “3” is high; “1” is low.

Geography

• How far from the equator? (the further the better)
• Are there insects that attack agriculture in a big way (tsetse fly, locusts, …)?
• How good is the access to water transportation?
  • On the coast? … or land-locked?
  • How many navigable rivers?
• Are there lots of natural minerals (including oil)?
• Climate
  • Do winter temperatures go below 61 Fahrenheit?
  • How many inches of rainfall per year (more is better)?
  • Is the rainfall spread across all seasons (more spread is better)?

Culture

• Is religion important to people – what percentage of the people are believers?
• Is the primary religion in the country fatalistic or progressive (focused on betterment)?
• What percentage of women are educated?
• Is society dominated by tribes, clans, or racial divides?
• Is there a general openness to new technology?
• Other factors?

Institutions

• How many major universities per capita (for every citizen)?
• How many banks or finance institutions per capita
• The percent of the population with access to electricity
• The percent of the population with access to basic phone services
• The percent of the population with access to internet
• Level of corruption according to Transparency International