Unless you do a full analysis, there's no use doing a partial one. Much of tech design and manufacture happens in "wealthier nation" for example, that in turn is distributed worldwide e.g. even poor countries possess mobile phones, and electronics in general.
Trading crops for western currency is a generally neutral exchange, but at least it gives you access to things you cannot otherwise produce - and technology generally can break the zero-sum/geo-arbitrage of trade.
> We literally feed perfectly good farmlands to cows
Trading crops for western currency is a generally neutral exchange, but at least it gives you access to things you cannot otherwise produce - and technology generally can break the zero-sum/geo-arbitrage of trade.
> We literally feed perfectly good farmlands to cows
Where does the wasted energy go?