Interesting theory here. I hadn't really thought about how to increase the demand side of the equation. I certainly think it's generally important to have a population that's hopeful about the future, open to try new products, and supportive of new, whacky ideas.
That being said, I'd encourage you to consider the supply side (new products/ideas) more deeply. What business factors contribute to a dearth of creative ideas? One might argue that the ad revenue model, which requires enormous amounts of attention, creates a certain kind of... (read more)
+1 to the term "state capacity," I ultimately understood what you meant, but it took a close reading.
Also, great article.