The World Is Improving

For John, BLUF:  Most of human existence has been a history of poverty and degregation.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Glenn Reynolds:  Actually, things are pretty good

Here is the sub-headline:

Free markets and free inquiry have changed the historic 'norms' of poverty and violence.

From USA Today, by Law Professor Glenn Harlan Reynolds, 21 December 2019.

Here is the lede plus one:

Amid stories of terrorism, government incompetence and corruption, mass migration and economic stagnation, there’s actually some good news:  Global poverty has fallen below 10% for the first time ever.

That’s right:  A new study by the World Bank estimates that less than 10% of the world’s population is living in what it calls poverty — an income of less than $1.90 per day.  Twenty-five years ago, over a third of the global population was living on less.  The biggest changes have come in East Asia and around the Pacific, but even sub-Saharan Africa, the worst place in the world for incomes, has improved significantly, with poverty dropping from 56% to an estimated 35.2% since 1990.

For most of human history, of course, extreme poverty was the norm.  People worked hard to get — if they were lucky — three meals a day and clothes on their backs.  Money was scarce, possessions were few, leisure existed only when all the work was done, which was seldom, and capital for investment was scarce — as were things to invest in.

And yet, this progress is not locked in.  The trust in a society is very important to its success.  We should want to be a "high trust" society.  It doesn't help when we call each other names.

At this Christmas Season it would be good for all of us to be men (and women) of good will.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff