For whatever reasons, whether it is society focus or different levels of development or otherwise, it is the end result that matters.No such thing as " different people excel in different disciplines". It depends on the areas a nation/people/society focus on. Many believe Asians were physically weak until Chinese started sweeping weightlifting medals.If Chinese devote to improving Spelling Bee or pharmaceuticals , they will win. Indians win in spelling bee because Indian parents consider English proficiency as a requirement to immigrate, integrate and succeed better in western countries. Indians excel in pharmaceuticals because Indian laws have a clause to junk foreign patents if it is necessary for public and this forced foreign companies to license Generic drugmakers. This led to slow and solid growth of indian pharma research.
We are comparing nations and people who have different levels of development and different conditions for development. No empirical evidence to suggest one people excel in a field than others. Malnutrition, for example, affects brain development and physical development. Poor countries won't churn out physically fit or smart people as numerous as rich countries, therefore. China is reaping rewards for improving its HDI, average incomes and focusing on science. If Egypt does that, Egypt can compete with Germany.
That is they excel in their specialization or prefered disciplines.
One thing though, there is great emphasis in India on IT and programming, producing millions of graduates from their IITs.
But their performance in global IT programming competitions are dismal.
ICPC is the Olympics of Programming.
2019
41 | Indian Institute of Technology - Madras | |
41 | Indian Institute of Technology - Roorkee |
2018
56 | Indian Institute of Technology - Delhi | |
56 | Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur | |
56 | Indian Institute of Technology - Madras | |
56 | Indian Institute of Technology - Patna | |
56 | Indian Institute of Technology - Roorkee |