Present and Future in an Uncertain World

In the two decades that followed World War II, real per capita income probably increased at a higher rate, in more countries and for more people, than at any other time in recorded history. The achievement is not diminished by the qualifications. There are, of course, more people, and the recorded history "for much of the world is relatively brief. It remains true, however, that in these two decades, there was considerable material progress for much of the world's population.