http://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/human_development.htm - the Japanese are about the same as the rest of us. If GDP were higher, the Japanese rich would have bigger yachts.
You look at Japan and think that they could be so much better off if they had higher GDP. I look at Japan and see that they have a fine standard of living with full employment, a fine health system and long lifespans.
I don't think we will agree as you think that growth can improve living standards for all of society and I think growth can only benefit those who have capital.
Japans GINI value blows your argument out of the water, it is NOT a winner take all society in which all wealth goes to the 1%, how many times do I have to point this out for you to get it through your thick skull. Just because that is what we in the US and UK and other unfortunate places get dealt dose not mean it is a universal quality of all society. Show me a scrap of data that actually supports your argument and I'll reconsider but right now your just massive projecting your view of your own society onto a foreign one.
Even if I agreed with your 'capitol' statement your interpretation probably neglects Human capitol which is a huge portion of any societies capitol stock and which is spread quite widely through the population.