Why small communities, clans, always developed and reached a normal standard of living? — There was no competition in them..
They covered all their needs within the micro-community and could accumulate resources..
In terms of efficiency, competition — not well, and evil, because twice as many resources are spent on the same task: времени, of money, and good, if one of the competitors is closer to a more effective solution.
Can to be just a waste of resources.