Why do rich countries remain rich? I can think of two possible explanations:

People there inherited the wealth of their ancestors (and of the companies of their generation).

Advances in technology allows you to earn money more easily.


Despite other factors at play: Approximately how big percent of the rich countries' wealth is caused by the first one and how big by the second one?
The first answer of presented in the list is wrong. GDP is measure of current production not of past inherited wealth. Even though the existing capital plays a part, the lowest of deprecation rate is around 25 years IIRC, so by and large the wealth is not inherited, but created by the generation.

Advances in technology are usually assumed to spread all around the globe quickly (certainly within one generation). So that's not the answer either.

I would argue that the important values and institutions that allow for wealth creation are the primary reason. It would not be too far of stretch to say that the values that made the wealth creation possible in the first place are what allows the continuation in wealth generation.

(Of course the GDP growth in developed countries does not seem to be too persistent, and has been falling. The alternate answer is that rich nations don't remain rich.)