Guest– Charles Kenny
Is the World Getting Better? The Economic Evidence Says Yes — An Encore Presentation with Charles Kenny
What if the relentlessly negative news cycle is giving us a distorted picture of reality? In this episode of Blue Sky, Charles Kenny from the Center for Global Development makes a compelling, data-driven case that the world is truly getting better — in ways most of us rarely hear about.
From dramatic reductions in global poverty and child mortality to rising living standards across the developing world, Charles unpacks the economic evidence that challenges our collective pessimism. He explores how technological advancements and shifting global perspectives are quietly reshaping human welfare for the better — and why that story isn't getting told.
If you've ever felt overwhelmed by doom and gloom, this episode is your antidote.
Resources:
@charlesjkenny Twitter
Center For Global Developement Website Twitter Facebook LinkedIn
Purchase Getting Better here
Chapters
00:00 Welcome Charles Kenny
01:57 Global Progress in Development
05:00 Drivers of Global Progress
08:11 Technology & Standard of Living
12:32 COVID-19 Vaccine Development
16:24 The Upside of Global Catch-Up
21:14 Poverty, Peace, and Happiness
27:52 Revisiting Malthusian Predictions
33:02 People as the Solution, Not Problem
38:08 Education and Global Tolerance
43:58 The Moral Imperative of Optimism
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