Joy to the world!

In many ways our world is getting better.

We are getting older 

Studies show that age brings an increase in wellbeing; people over 50 are less angry, less stressed and less worried than at any time since they were kids; and that the happiest people of all are in their 80s.  Also, dementia rates are falling. 

We live longer than ever 

Since 1900, life expectancy in the West has risen 50% and is still rising, ... even the poorest people in the world now live longer than the richest Victorians did.

Global inequality is falling

As recently as 1981, more than 40 per cent of the world lived on less than $1 a day. Today ... that share is down to 14 per cent.

More reasons for optimism

Environment-wise, some greenhouse gas emissions are down, some new species have been found, and the death-rate from weather-related natural disasters is down.  Meanwhile, childhood malaria rates are down by about half since 2000, the Dow (US) is up like mad, job growth is back, the Naira steadied...

Adapted from: Dare to be an optimist, by Margaret Wente for TheGlobeAndMail (Canada)