system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: Why does it seem that most tropical countries are poorer than most temperate countries?

I could be completely wrong, but it seems that most tropical countries are poorer by a considerable margin than most temperate countries.  What gives?
gpt
Nice observation!

One theory is that tropical environments are hindrances on building up robust societies, namely because of two reasons:

1) The tropics are harsh environments that contain a lot of various diseases, causing life expectancy to be very short.

2) Temperate climates provide for much greater agriculture. In the tropics, agriculture is less efficient and bountiful.  Building large and powerful societies requires a strong agricultural foundation and you just don't have that in tropical countries.