Consumers can purchase products from all around the world, and they have access to a wide variety of goods and services. The miracles of globalization are clear to consumers. Happiness comes from social justice and political freedom as well as prosperity. One reason for this is that although most Americans have all of these things already, they still want more because other people have even nicer stuff than them. However, they’re still not satisfied with their lives and want more things like electronics and cars. People in developing nations are doing better than those in developed ones were 50 years ago. Nowadays you can get almost anything you want at any time of day-foods that kings could only dream about are available on every street corner! A Rising Tide Lifts the Poor’s Boat, TooĪlthough the world has become a better place, it’s not necessarily making people happier.

Life has improved drastically over time-in 1800 England, life expectancy was only 40 years old! Today’s society is much safer than what it used to be a hundred years ago. In fact, many things were worse in the past: People used to live shorter lives they did not have access to modern amenities they had more diseases and illnesses there were fewer jobs available food wasn’t as plentiful or affordable. They imagine that life was better in the past because it was less stressful, healthier and easier than it is now. For example, it takes less time to earn money for reading light today compared with what it took before.ĭespite all the technology and medications we have today, people yearn for simpler times. They have more food options and can afford to buy everyday items that are much cheaper than they used to be. People are healthier now than they were in the past. Over the past 10,000 years, life expectancy has increased and infant mortality has decreased. In fact, an experiment was conducted where an artist tried to make a better version of a cheap toaster using his own hands however, the finished product wasn’t as good as the original he bought at the store for only $5! The ability of humans to combine their intelligence allows them to grow steadily wealthier over time through increased division of labor (the specialization of work). This shows that humans have more power as a group than any individual alone. However, no one person could build a computer mouse from scratch. For example, someone has to drill for oil and make plastic before a computer mouse can be made. Humans are the most advanced species on earth because of their ability to share knowledge and learn from each other. 1-Page Summary of The Rational Optimist The Rise of Collective Intelligence

The Rational Optimist by Matt Ridley