How politics affects your wealth

On a recent trip to Hong Kong, I spent a lot of time using their subway, and I was struck by how seamless the experience was.

- KEITH LIM

No matter the time of day, I could always board the next train. Even during rush hour, I never had to skip a ride because of overcrowding. As a result, no matter where I wanted to go, I could reliably reach it within 15 minutes. This got me thinking about wealth. In the Philippines, you can be rich enough to own a Land Cruiser and still waste hours of your life driving through EDSA. In contrast, in Hong Kong I managed to grab lunch, visit a zoo, and stop by a mall in three different areas—covering 15 kilometers—in less time than it would take locally to drive 10 kilometers for dinner in Bonifacio Global City (BGC). The sidewalks were wide, the stations air-conditioned, and I could use my phone on the train without worrying about theft. A basic commuter in Hong Kong has a better transportation experience than even the wealthiest car owner in Manila. In that sense, the Hong Kong commuter is wealthier than a Filipino driving a Ferrari through EDSA.