The world looks like a mess. While the economy appears to be doing better, the disparity of wealth and income has grown. Debt levels are rising. Protectionism appears on the rise. Global flash points, like Korea, Middle East, Pakistan, Venezuela are unaddressed.  

This Great Graphic tweeted by @DinaPomeranz, with a hat tip to @bill_easterly is a helpful corrective.   

The clear decline in hunger, poverty, illiteracy, child mortality and pollution is impressive. Moreover, the most serious financial crisis since the Great Depression is hardly detectable in this chart. It helps keep things in perspective.