Per capita spending is a red herring. Much of the total spending is outside of the consumer sphere. If a nation builds a low-cost rail system that can transport people more cheaply than, say, an outdated domestic airline industry — is that nation poorer than one which has a less efficient infrastructure?

Obviously, if the question is which country is more modern and more developed, then the nation with more efficient and reliable infrastructure is superior.

If the goal is to turn an inefficient and aging society into a good thing, then you abstract from the necessity of all costs, and regard every cost as a benefit, regardless of whether that cost was necessary.