the key isn't the divergence but the entrenched-ness. In a country where government doesn't meddle with the economy, a winner is constantly facing the challenges from the others. Thus he has to constantly improve in order to maintain his entrenched-ness. Anyone slacked off will be toppled. With government's help, however, he doesn't have to improve. He just needs to get the government to protect his entrenched-ness. It is probably far easier.