[jjm2111]

I've got two:

1. Race - Most of Latin America suffers from a very bad race problem. 2% of the population have kept pure racial lines from their European ancestors. The rest are a mixture of European and Natives, European and Blacks, and Natives and Blacks. Since such a large percentage of the population has such a hard time "making it" they will take money any way they can find it, including lots of palm greasing.

2. Socialism - Most "Catholic" countries including Spain and Portugal have democratic socialism. Since the state controls such a large portion of the economy people will look to enrich themselves personally by gaming the system.

Ok, so which countries did you live in?

[XBob]

91 - What does race have to do with anything? The Japanese and Koreans and Chinese and Israeli's and Americans and Germans and Brit's do pretty well.

autocratic Socialism - ah, now you are getting somewhere - Catholic culture supports/accepts autocratic rule.

Where? Philippines, South Vietnam and a bit in Italy.