In most years the world gets better. It seldom feels that way, admittedly, but that is human nature: we worry about the catastrophe in the news – the earthquake, war, famine or pandemic – and miss the gradual but relentless growth of production, technology and understanding.

During recent decades, as charted by social scientists such as Hans Rosling, Max Roser and Steven Pinker, those forces have lifted hundreds of millions of people out of poverty. By stopping to do a careful accounting, you can see the process in action, year by year.

Financial Times