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GDP per capita, for all of its flaws as a measurement tool, is still remarkable to look at. Plotting GDP per capita, we see the graph go almost vertical as after 1800 after milenia of stagnation.

We are already living in the singularity, we just don't realize it yet.

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With so much evidence of material progress, why do only 6% of Americans think the world is getting better?

I'd argue negativity bias is the only reason. Our attraction to negative narratives and talking points perpetuates pessimism far more intensively and for far longer than is justified by the facts.

Any other reasons I'm missing? Simple ignorance doesn't seem powerful enough to explain the depth of pessimism seen.

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author

Thanks for the question.

Yes, I think that a negativity bias is part of it.

I list some other reasons in these articles:

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/why-we-ignore-progress

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/why-we-ignore-progress-2-of-2

And some additional reasons in the digital era:

https://frompovertytoprogress.substack.com/p/why-are-people-still-unhappy-in-a

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