Final answer:
Australia has thrived economically due to the export of raw materials and minerals, coupled with a small population that allows wealth to be better distributed. Papua New Guinea faces challenges from historical colonization and the complexities of diverse indigenous rights, which have limited its economic development.
Step-by-step explanation:
The divergence in technological advancement and wealth between countries such as Australia and Papua New Guinea within Oceania can be attributed to a combination of historical, geographical, and economic factors. Australia, having capitalized on its abundant raw materials and minerals, has created substantial wealth through exports, despite not having a large manufacturing sector for exports. Coupled with a relatively small population, this has allowed for a more significant distribution of wealth amongst its people, thus contributing to a higher standard of living.
On the other hand, Papua New Guinea, despite having rich cultural and natural resources, has faced challenges that have hindered its economic development. These include historical impacts of colonization, the struggle of indigenous communities to maintain their rights against governmental and corporate entities, and the complexities introduced by having a large number of indigenous groups with diverse interests.
Moreover, global economic systems have traditionally benefited already wealthy nations, sometimes at the expense of less developed countries. As with older evolutionary economic models, it's clear that prosperity often has not arisen from isolation but through, historically, often exploitative international relations that result in wealth concentration in certain nations while leaving others with fewer resources to develop.