Why are the most successful countries in the world all liberal? Even America, by global standards, is a very liberal country.

For all the talk about "small government," why do liberal countries have freer markets and more freedom than conservative countries?

For all the panic over gay people and children, why do countries where gay people are allowed to adopt children have far less cases of child abuse than countries that ban gay couples from adopting?

I'm banning the usual angry trolls, so hopefully we get some real answers here.