It sounds odd to my ear to matter-of-factly state that the US is deprived due to being capital-poor.

I mean, I'm not disputing anything specific, but where do middle-class people have better access to consumer finance than the US?

If you'd asked me what single fact represents American homeowners to people interested in economics around the world, I would've guessed it's the access to 30-year fixed rate mortgages.

As far as I know this is a deliberate policy in the US, that has not been emulated by those envious of the American economy, but why I haven't a clue.