Agreed Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Western Europe and Croatia is in Eastern Europe and, whilst its one of the more developed countries in Eastern Europe, it’s still Eastern Europe...
I have some problems with HDI, and I don't recommend anyone take these kinds of measurements as gospel, but Portugal is one of the poorer countries in Western Europe, and and average quality of life is high across America. I'd rather live in Portugal personally but that's because I don't mind the lifestyle.
The same states that rank at the bottom of HDI today would have ranked near the bottom 100 years ago as well. Initial conditions explain the difference, not partisan political squabbles.
It's because of racial discrimination. Black people make a lot less than white people. These southern states have a higher percentage of black people than the other ones.
I read somewhere recently - perhaps it was one of those "interesting facts" on this website? - that in Britain, people with Norman surnames are on average 10% richer than the rest of us. The passing of a thousand years hasn't eradicated that particular inequality. Compared to that, one century ago is the recent past.
Jeez I had to type "South Carolina" with only one second remaining. I think I must have been only a few tenths of a second away from the time running out.