The percentage of the world's population living in absolute poverty has significantly decreased from 42% in 1981 to 8.1% in 2018.
The global food supply has increased, nearly eradicating world hunger, with Sub-Saharan Africa having the same access to food as Portugal did in the 1960s.
Urbanization leads to a more efficient workforce, increased economic growth, and declining birthrates, contributing to a better future.
Deep dives
Improvement of Global Progress
The podcast highlights the progress of the human race, contrary to the negative narratives often portrayed in the mainstream news. It mentions that the percentage of the world's population living in absolute poverty has significantly decreased from 42% in 1981 to 8.1% in 2018. The episode also emphasizes the near-eradication of world hunger, with a substantial increase in the global food supply and tree coverage. The data presented suggests that despite certain specific issues that still need improvement, we are living in an age of remarkable progress in various sectors.
The Green Revolution and Reforestation
The podcast explores the Green Revolution, a phenomenon responsible for increased agricultural productivity and reduced land usage. It discusses how careful breeding of crops like dwarf wheat and the use of nitrogen-fixing fertilizers have prevented extensive land depletion. Moreover, it highlights the positive trend of global reforestation, with tree coverage increasing in many parts of the world, including the northern hemisphere. The episode mentions that China, for example, has gained significant woodland over the past 30 years. Overall, the podcast illustrates the success of these efforts in preserving and expanding forests.
Optimism for Urbanization and Demographic Transition
The podcast emphasizes the positive effects of urbanization, highlighting the social, economic, and innovative benefits of people living in cities. It points out that urban areas consume less energy per capita due to public transport and a more efficient use of resources. The episode also mentions that urbanization leads to a more efficient workforce and increased economic growth. It highlights the declining birthrates globally, thanks to improvements in education, birth control, and living standards. While acknowledging potential challenges such as an aging workforce, the podcast concludes that urbanization and the demographic transition ultimately contribute to a better future.
Free Trade: A Path to Prosperity
Free trade has played a significant role in lifting millions of people out of poverty. By allowing specialization and international trade, individuals and countries can focus on their strengths, leading to enhanced economic growth. However, there has been a growing resentment towards free trade, resulting in reduced benefits for both rich and poor nations. To overcome this, the idea of subsidizing rich agricultural producers in the West, who might be opposed to free trade, is proposed. By doing so, we can incentivize support for free trade and create a favorable environment for global economic growth. According to estimates, for every dollar spent on these subsidies, the world could experience a $2000 return on investment, benefiting both developed and developing nations.
Saving Lives through Family Planning and Basic Emergency Care
Investing in family planning and basic emergency care for women can have a profound impact on global health and well-being. Currently, hundreds of thousands of mothers and millions of newborns die annually due to inadequate care during childbirth. By providing simple interventions and access to family planning services, we can save lives and improve the overall health of communities. It is estimated that allocating approximately $3 billion annually to these initiatives could yield substantial dividends, including enhanced maternal and child health, economic growth through the demographic dividend, and reduced family tragedies. For every dollar invested in family planning and emergency care, the estimated social benefits would amount to $100.
All we ever hear about on the mainstream news is that the world is in dire straights, that we are going in an irreversible direction, and that it is all our fault. Throughout many conversations in Season 4 of this podcast, we have explored these narratives in depth. We would like to promote an alternative narrative...
Did you know that in 1981, 42% of the world’s population was living in what is called “absolute poverty” and by 2018, that number had fallen to 8.1%? By 2030, we are on pace to have less than 5% of the world’s population living in poverty.
Are you aware that alongside nearly eradicating poverty, we have also nearly ended world hunger? Over the last 50 years, we have added nearly 1,000 calories per day to the world food supply average. The world’s poorest region, Sub-Saharan Africa, has roughly the same access to food as Portugal did in the 1960s. As of the last survey in 2017, only 2 out of 173 nations in the world have food access averages under 2,000 calories per day.
We have also drastically increased the supply of tree coverage across the globe, resources are being used more efficiently than ever before, and the global economy has grown by over 100x over the last 200 hundred years.
There are legitimate reasons to be concerned about certain specific issues that we still need to improve; but overall, the data is undeniable. We are living in an age of seemingly-impossible progress in nearly every sector imaginable.
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