In 1820,9 out of 10 people
could not read or write.

For millennia, the global economy was a fixed pie. One person's gain was almost always another's loss, and growth
was negligible. The modern era is defined by productivity growth driven by technology, global trade, and the spread
of knowledge. This created a positive-sum world where shared progress became possible for the first time.

The engine of progress: A shift from a zero-sum to a positive-sum world

world lacks access to
safe drinking water.

The progress has been remarkable, but our work is far from finished. Serious challenges remain, and the data
that shows us how far we've come also illuminates the path we still need to travel.

Source: This presentation is based on data and research from Our World in Data, including Max Roser's essays "The history of global economic inequality" and the "Literacy" and "Child Mortality" entries.

Economics Lecture

The_Great_Escape_Two_Centuries_of_Progress