A blog about the good news in the world.
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The Good News
We all know the saying, “No news is good news.” But what does that actually mean? Is there value in hearing no news? In some cases, yes. When it comes to your personal life, for example, not receiving news can sometimes be a good thing.
The world is getting better
In recent years, it seems like the news is full of stories about all the ways the world is going to hell in a handbasket. But it’s important to remember that, overall, the world is actually getting better. A lot better.
For example, global poverty has been declining rapidly. In 1990, 36% of the world’s population lived in extreme poverty; by 2015, that number had fallen to 10%. And it’s not just poverty that’s declining. Child mortality rates are falling as well. In 1990, 12% of children worldwide died before their fifth birthday; by 2013, that number had fallen to 4%.
global hunger is also down. In 1990, 20% of the world’s population was undernourished; by 2015, that number had declined to 12%. And educational attainment is up too. In 1970, less than half of the world’s population was literate; by 2015, 84% of people worldwide were literate.
But it’s not just Traditional measures of progress that are improving. In recent years, we’ve seen a decline in global violence as well. For example, according to the Global Peace Index, the world is now more peaceful than it has been at any point in human history.
So next time you find yourself feeling overwhelmed by all the bad news in the world, remember that things are actually getting better. The world may not be perfect, but it’s definitely heading in the right direction.
People are living longer
The life expectancy for Americans has been on the rise for several years. In fact, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the life expectancy for a baby born in 2016 is 78.6 years. This is up from 78.5 years in 2015 and 78.4 years in 2014.
While this is good news, it’s important to note that not everyone is enjoying the same longevity gains. For example, while life expectancy for whites increased by 0.2 years between 2014 and 2016, it actually decreased by 0.1 years for blacks over the same period.
There are many factors that can contribute to differences in life expectancy, including economic status, access to healthcare, and lifestyle choices. However, one of the most important factors is Genetics. Studies have shown that genetics can account for as much as 30-35% of the variation in lifespan between different individuals.
So, while we may not be able to control all of the factors that affect our lifespan, it’s clear that there are some things we can do to increase our chances of living a long and healthy life.”
Child mortality is falling
According to a new report, child mortality is falling around the world. Between 1990 and 2015, the number of children dying before the age of five fell from 12.7 million to 5.8 million.
The report, from the UNICEF, attributes this decline to better healthcare and nutrition for children, as well as advances in technology. In particular, the introduction of vaccines for preventable diseases like measles and polio has had a significant impact.
This is welcome news, but there is still a long way to go. In 2015, 5.8 million children under the age of five died, which is still far too many. The majority of these deaths were due to preventable causes like pneumonia, diarrhea, and malaria.
The UNICEF is calling on governments to do more to improve child health, including investing in healthcare and nutrition, and making sure that all children have access to vaccines.
Extreme poverty is declining
In recent years, Extreme poverty has been declining globally. According to the World Bank, the percentage of people living in Extreme poverty has declined from 36% in 1990 to 10% in 2015.1 This is an extraordinary achievement, and it represents the success of many years of effort by governments, international organizations, and NGOs.
The decline in Extreme poverty is due to a variety of factors, including economic growth, improved access to education and health care, and increases in agricultural productivity. In addition, a number of specific programmes and policies have had a positive impact on poverty reduction, such as microfinance initiatives and targeted cash transfer programmes.
Despite these progress, Extreme poverty remains a significant problem in many parts of the world. Approximately 700 million people – or 9.6% of the world’s population – still live in Extreme poverty.2 The vast majority of these people (85%) live in Sub-Saharan Africa or South Asia.3
The problem of Extreme poverty is complex, and there is no easy solution. However, continued effort by governments, international organizations, civil society groups, and individual citizens can help to reduce poverty and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
Why is this happening?
There’s a lot of bad news lately. The economy is tanking, natural disasters seem to be on the rise, and politics are more divisive than ever. But what’s the good news? Why is this happening?
Economic growth
Economic growth is the increase in the inflation-adjusted market value of the goods and services produced by an economy over time. It is conventionally measured as the percent rate of increase in real gross domestic product, or real GDP. Research shows that economic growth generally increases a nation’s average standard of living, although there are occasional periods during which a rise in GDP does not lead to greater material benefits for most citizens.
The term can be used to refer to the growth of an entire economy, or particular sectors within it. Many economists prefer the latter usage, as it allows for comparisons across sectors and time periods.
Economic growth is usually measured in terms of real GDP growth, which is the inflation-adjusted value of all goods and services produced by an economy during a specific period. This measure accounts for changes in both the quantity and quality of output, making it a more comprehensive indicator than other measures such as GDP per capita or per capita income.
In addition to real GDP growth, economists often track other measures of economic activity such as employment, wages, inflation, balance of trade, and business confidence surveys. These indicators can provide valuable insights into the underlying drivers of economic growth and help to identify potential risks or opportunities.
Improved technology and education
Today, there are more ways than ever to get a high-quality education, and technology has made it easier and more affordable than ever to get access to the resources you need to succeed. In the past, getting a good education often meant spending a lot of money on tuition, books, and supplies. But now, thanks to online learning tools and resources, you can get the same quality education for a fraction of the cost.
And it’s not just education that’s getting better and more affordable—technology is also making it easier than ever to start and grow a business. In the past, starting a business meant spending a lot of money on office space, supplies, and advertising. But now, thanks to online tools and resources, you can start and grow a business for very little money.
So why is this happening? There are two primary factors: improved technology and improved access to education.
1) Improved technology: Today’s technology has made it easier and more affordable than ever to get access to the resources you need to succeed. In the past, getting a good education often meant spending a lot of money on tuition, books, and supplies. But now, thanks to online learning tools and resources, you can get the same quality education for a fraction of the cost. And it’s not just education that’s getting better and more affordable—technology is also making it easier than ever to start and grow a business. In the past, starting a business meant spending a lot of money on office space, supplies, and advertising. But now, thanks to online tools and resources, you can start and grow a business for very little money.
2) Improved access to education: Today, there are more ways than ever to get a high-quality education. In the past, getting an education often meant spending a lot of money on tuition, books, and supplies. But now there are many different ways to get an education including online learning tools which can provide high-qualityeducation for little cost.. Thanks to these improvements in access toeducation anyone anywhere can get the same quality education that was once reserved for only those who could afford it..
Better governance
There is no silver bullet to solve the world’s Problems, but better governance is a essential ingredient.
Governments are the primary vehicles through which societies make decisions, set priorities, and allocate resources. They also play critical roles in promoting economic growth, providing social welfare, and protecting civil liberties.
In recent years, there have been a number of high-profile failures of governance around the world. The global financial crisis revealed serious deficiencies in financial regulation in developed countries. The 2011 Arab uprisings showed that many autocratic regimes in the Middle East and North Africa were not responsive to the needs and aspirations of their citizens. The Ebola outbreak in West Africa exposed weaknesses in health systems and emergency response capabilities.
Despite these challenges, there are also many examples of good governance around the world. In 2012, Botswana was ranked as the number one country in Africa in the World Bank’s Worldwide Governance Indicators (WGI). The WGI are based on over 30 indicators of governance, including control of corruption, rule of law, andvoice and accountability. Botswana has consistently been ranked near the top of the WGI since 2006.
Other countries that have consistently performed well in the WGI include Costa Rica, Mauritius, Chile, Uruguay, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Canada, New Zealand, Australia, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom.
There is no simple formula for good governance. Each country has its own unique history, culture, institutions ,and challenges. But there are some common themes that emerge from successful cases of good governance . These include:
-A commitment to democracy and accountability
-Effective institutions , including an independent judiciary and civil society organizations
-Transparency and accountable management of public finances
-Sound economic policies
-The rule of law
What does this mean for the future?
Despite the current situation, there are many reasons to be optimistic about the future. One silver lining of this pandemic is that it has forced us to slow down and appreciate the things we often take for granted. It has also brought us closer to our families and given us more time to focus on our personal relationships. Let’s take a look at some of the good news that’s been happening lately.
The world is getting better
Despite all the bad news we see in the media, it’s important to remember that the world is actually getting better. Every day, we’re seeing progress in areas like health, education, and poverty reduction.
Here are some examples:
-The global childhood mortality rate has declined by more than 60% since 1990.
-The number of people living in extreme poverty has been reduced by more than half since 1990.
-More girls are attending school than ever before.
-The global literacy rate has increased dramatically over the last few decades.
And it’s not just developing countries that are seeing progress. Even in developed countries, we’re seeing trends moving in the right direction. For example, violent crime rates have been declining in the United States for decades.
So why don’t we hear more about this good news? Unfortunately, bad news is often more attention-grabbing than good news. And while the world certainly has its share of problems, it’s important to remember that things are actually getting better.
People are living longer
The global life expectancy has been on the rise for several decades now, thanks in part to advances in medical care and public health. In 1950, the average lifespan was just over 50 years; by 2015, it had risen to over 70 years. And according to some estimates, it could reach 85 years by 2050.
This trend is good news for individuals and society as a whole. For one thing, it means that more people will have the opportunity to lead long and productive lives. It also presents challenges, such as how to provide healthcare and other services for an aging population. But overall, the fact that people are living longer is a positive development.
Child mortality is falling
According to the United Nations, child mortality is falling. In fact, the number of children dying before their fifth birthday has halved since 1990.
This is good news. But it also means that more children are living to see their fifth birthday. And that’s not necessarily good news for the planet.
The world’s population is projected to grow from 7.7 billion today to 9.7 billion by 2050. And most of that growth will happen in Africa, where the birth rate is highest.
That means more people will be competing for food, water, and other resources. It also means more greenhouse gases will be released into the atmosphere, furthering climate change.
So while it’s good news that fewer children are dying, we need to do more to ensure that all children have a chance at a healthy and sustainable future.
Extreme poverty is declining
According to the World Bank, the number of people living in extreme poverty (defined as those living on less than $1.90 a day) has declined dramatically over the past 30 years. In 1990, nearly 1.9 billion people were living in extreme poverty; by 2015, that number had fallen to 702 million. As a result, the proportion of people living in extreme poverty has declined from 36 percent to 10 percent over the same period.
This progress is thanks largely to economic growth in developing countries, which has lifted millions of people out of poverty. In 1990, only one developing region (East Asia and the Pacific) had an average income above $10,000; by 2015, that figure had risen to six regions. And while the absolute number of people living in poverty has declined, so too has the number of people who are barely surviving on $1.90 a day. In 1990, 56 percent of those living in poverty were surviving on that amount; by 2015, that figure had fallen to 35 percent.
There is still more work to be done to reduce extreme poverty further, but these trends show that it is possible to make significant progress. With continued economic growth and improved governance, it is possible to bring even more people out of extreme poverty in the years to come.
