Abstract
Different destinies of particular countries and nonexistence of warranted economic and social prosperity are explained by two paradigms: geographical and institutional one. Geographical paradigm insists upon the significance of physical geography, climate, ecology, that shape technology and individual behaviour. Institutional paradigm attributes the central role of institutions which promote investment in human, physical capital and technology. These two approaches have their roots in: 1. Traditional society theory (Theory of Asiatic mode of production): differences in traditional societies of each country explain their different growth rates and level of economic development, and 2. World system theory: only countries that escaped colonial status have a chance to develop.