Next Gen News

Yes, the mood is pessimistic. But the real statistics - in the economy, terrorism, crime - a very different story

seems very difficult to have confidence in the state of the country - or state of the planet. We still face in the aftermath of the worst recession since the Great Depression and a significant risk to dip back into it. The European economy is growing old and weak compared to young male tigers in Asia. Terrorism strikes fear in the home while the war continues in Afghanistan and used violence against demonstrators in Syria and elsewhere. And the state of the global environment is fragile. How can we have hope to face a litany of misery?

In recent decades have seen a dramatic improvement in the quality of life in the UK, Europe and worldwide. And threats to the sustainability of these gains are not mysterious and unstoppable, but well understood and manageable. Why not be optimistic?

start with the economy. Despite the recent decline caused by the global recession, between 1970 and 2010, average incomes in the UK more than doubled, according to the World Bank. And wealth has spread worldwide, so that poverty measured by the proportion of the population lives on less than $ 1.25 per day has halved since 1990, mainly due to rapid growth in China and in India.

Some, of course, managing to catch the news of these victories on the absolute deprivation, as a sinister omen. Europe can not be relegated to an appendix stir in the left end of a resurgence in Asia. As far as the only answer is: "Get over it." Rebirth of Asia will create new opportunities for manufacturing, trade and investment in Britain. In fact, the largest manufacturer in Britain is now Group India's Tata. If this is bad for our sense of pride, maybe it's a good thing.

not only the long-term future of the global economy look bright, but we will stay longer to enjoy it. The average Briton born in 1960 could expect to live until age 71. Today, the average Briton will live 10 years longer. In fact, fewer people die at all stages of life. Nearly 3% of children born in Britain died before their fifth birthday in 1960. Today that figure is half of 1%. Think of your children or grandchildren and try to imagine the amount of pain that prevented these advances. Again, the UK is symptomatic of a global trend truly dramatic. In 1990, nearly 12 million children worldwide died before reaching their fifth birthday today, that figure is less than 8 million

One might expect people to consider a healthier and longer lives is good news. But apparently not. Just makes people worried that support all older people, because birth rates have fallen so low in Britain in recent years. Would it be better for the British economy if there were a few guys younger retirees to keep around in their best years continues. The simple answer to this question is to import some.

Fortunately, it appears that all security alerts and emergency legislation in response to the terror of the powers of illusion are not reversed on March 1 world toward greater freedom. The Polity database maintained by the George Mason University in the United States, the rates of the world as a state between the absolute autocracy and strengthen democracy. Policy overall mean score between the countries has never been as high as it is today. Recent events in the Middle East are only the latest manifestation of an emotional: democracy is the system default policy around the world
to the threat of terror, our continuous depletion of the global environment is a concern much higher. But at least we know what to do about it - and it is eminently feasible. We are making progress. Emissions of carbon dioxide in the UK fell by 9% between 1991 and 2007. Between 1980 and 2009, the amount of revenue generated per unit of energy consumed in the United States have doubled, reflecting a similar trend in the Western world. With China and India have announced the main units of renewable energy and even improving the U.S. auto emissions, standards, there is hope for a more sustainable future.