Is it Really Getting Worse?

Despite the pleadings of mass media these days economist Jeff Thredgold reminds us, in his semi-annual Happy Talk blog posting, that the general direction of the world is up, not down, and there are plenty of reasons for optimism. Here are a few of Jeff’s points that jumped out at me:

·      Even as U.S. economic output (GDP) has climbed by more than 210% since 1970, aggregate emission of six principal air pollutants has plunged by 60%

·      The divorce rate dropped by one-third between 1981 and 2008, and is at its lowest level since 1970

·      Productivity of U.S. workers rose an average of 2.4% annually during the past 10 years, some of the strongest gains in 40 years

·      When comparing economic size and population, the average U.S. worker is 10-12 times more productive than the average worker in China.

·      Roughly 80% of companies that suspended or reduced their 401(k) matches during the past 2-3 years have reinstated them

·      America produces more steel today than 30 years ago, despite the shuttered plants and slimmed-down work force

·      During the early 1960s, the five-year survival rate from cancer for Americans was one in three. Today it is two in three…continuing to climb…and the highest in the world

·      Donations to charity rose 3.8% in 2010, with $291 billion donated by individuals, foundations, and corporations. As a percentage of GDP, Americans gave twice as much as the next most charitable nation…England.

·      Men’s time spent on child care [with their children] has tripled over the past 40 years.

·      A recent poll of more than 12,000 global business figures conducted by the World Economic Forum ranked the U.S. as the world’s most competitive economy

To see Mr. Thredgold’s full list as posted on his blog click here.