"For instance, historical national accounts suggest that GDP per capita in the Spanish-occupied Philippines increased by over 15% between 1820 and 1902..."

The Philippines was hardly an egalitarian wonderland before 1820 since the Spanish had already been ruling and exploiting the archipeligo for over 200 years. What changed during this period was that the Philippines were opened to world trade by Spain and the money poured in. An affluent middle class of Fillipinos was created and they started an independence movement.

If you think that economics has anything to do with the fellow in his nice white skips sleeping on a piece of cardboard in Times Square in the illustration, then you really don't know anything about that particular problem. I bet the Strand Book stand in the picture is paying over 20 dollars an hour right now. How about a picture of a poverty stricken family in last year's sneakers clutching their 4G cellphones. It's enough to make you want to weep.