What makes these two essays significant is the concept that success in any activity comes from the dedication and stimulation people receive.
We can arrive at this answer because:
Gladwell focuses on the idea that no one becomes successful without making an effort and without receiving encouragement from the people around them.
That's because in "Rice Paddies & Math Tests," the author shows how Chinese children are more efficient at math than American children, because of the stimulation they receive.
This is because rice plantations in China encourage children to understand important mathematical concepts, which make them very efficient mathematically.
American children do not have this kind of stimulation and therefore take longer to understand mathematical concepts.
In "Marita's Bargain," the author shows how dedication and willpower are essential to being a successful person.
He presents this theme, showing how students from lower social classes need to dedicate themselves a lot to overcome the factors that hinder their academic and professional lives.
With this, we can see how the author shows that there are a series of factors that help people to be efficient and successful. These actors are not always easy to reach, but they are essential to promote an individual.