Mostly it’s that in the 1950s, most of the world’s population was still pre-industrial. Industrization massively increases a country’s wealth and ability to bid for resources.
Now the whole world is industrialized, but the planet is still the same planet. The same barrel of oil can go to a refinery worker by Americans in Louisiana or workers in any number of countries that were completely undeveloped backwaters back in 1950.
Mostly it’s that in the 1950s, most of the world’s population was still pre-industrial. Industrization massively increases a country’s wealth and ability to bid for resources.
Now the whole world is industrialized, but the planet is still the same planet. The same barrel of oil can go to a refinery worker by Americans in Louisiana or workers in any number of countries that were completely undeveloped backwaters back in 1950.