As I travel more and see the world (around 10 countries now), I can't help but notice the influence some countries have over others. What do Thailand, Sri Lanka and Oman have in common? KFC, McDonald's, Toyotas, iPhones and more. Products from the developed world in the developing. Fast food and tech from America, Cars from Japan and some level of South Korean, German and European influence too. Will today's new trade wars really help?
The economic growth that took place in the last century and the general development of human life in most part of the world over this period is underrated, overlooked and underappreciated. We celebrate many other pointless events than the ideas that led the world to be better. We need to hold a large gathering and festivals for these ideas more than anything else. The invisible hand is and was a more beneficial god than any other god that was ever created and it delivers a heaven in this life you will live, without the burden of being a rat in the next.
Trade & business, a focus on science, human development and classical liberalism are principles that these societies have followed that have led to this. The spread of these ideas and the philosophy behind them has led to a boost in world GDP and has improved the lives of many. We don't celebrate it enough. We don't protect it enough. Politics, Religion, Society don't focus on these often.
Bryan Caplan rightly said in my podcast, we need to stop listening to religious and political leaders and knock them down the status ladder. We need to elevate the status of business leaders, corporate leaders, scientists, researchers, doctors.
The developed countries for the most part have these political and economic features but in addition to all of this, they have productivity & innovation as a feature. The culture is perhaps different and alters but without these two I'm not sure how any of it was achieved. There is a focus on human development as well which leads to this productivity and innovation. In pop culture, I don't see the fascination or even looking up to these developed countries any more. They're no longer ideals or role models in the public sphere. The youth who travel and live abroad do speak about them often but its not as visible as earlier. We've become publicly inward looking.
The progress that these ideas have bought, the betterment of human lives is just overlooked. History has not been so free, kind, healthy or wealthy for most of the population and humanity that existed. We're perhaps in the 99.9% of the quality of life in all of humanity. In many parts of the world, these ideas are not at all cherished or even acknowledged. Traditional, old school ideas still prevail with the west no longer being looked at as model for a better society and our past being treated as better. Traditional and religious societies do have some long term advantages such as a better fertility rate, better coordination and a better environment but the quality of life is lower in my view.
The developed world is better and we must not get tangled up in the cruelty of the past or the cons of these ideas. Yes, there was colonialism, slavery, the alienation of the worker, market failures, the damage to the environment and animals and many other problems with these ideas. But these ideas that led the world to be a better place are not dependent on these cons and we must not throw out everything the west has to offer. The problems that come with it should be solved for but not at the cost of turning away from the central principles.
The people are on average more civilized, mature, worldly, nicer, smarter, decent than developing countries? There is a focus on human development through education, a focus on healthcare, on science & technology. These ideas have led to a lot of progress. Despite Germany's and Japan's failures in world wars, they were able to achieve a lot following that. There is so much to learn from the Americans too, in terms of their productivity and innovation. Contrary to what others may think, America is much less racist than many other countries out there. Its in the bottom 25% in my view.
On this topic of race, while the left is going down in vibes and status, the impact of their core ideas around equality is again underrated. To treat people with equality and dignity, to overcome differences of race, caste, wealth is not celebrated enough either. The world without these left leaning ideas is to me still backward. And there are many countries out there that don't focus enough on what the left talks about. The principles that focus on the individual and to help the marginalized is not celebrated enough either. The shouting competitions and attacks between the left and right make us miss the benefits both have.
Its a combination of the best parts of the left and the right that makes the world better. To treat one being better than the other is simplistic and one must overcome the tribalism of politics. Its also important to hold on to certain values and goals that lead to a better world. To want to progress towards something better is a value and goal itself which is not looked at by most. The world devoid of these values drifts aimlessly and eventually ends up in the past?
We need most of all human development. We need the spread of better ideas, the rise of better leaders, better role models, better behavior, better policies, better education. We need to hold on to the idea of progress and getting better. The past is not better. (There are aspects of modern life that needs to be rethought, community life, the alienation of the worker and lonely isolated individuals needs solutions. And one never knows how the internal life of the past was)
Its not perfect and there are many problems that even this model brings up. But it is better than the other models out there. In some ways we are heading towards that but in some ways we're not. The people in these countries may change and no longer care about these ideas, the % of people who have worse ideas may rise or who just worse than some in the developing country may rise too but the ideas got us to have a better place must remain.
To truly understand your current life and before you come up with criticisms, just compare your life to the life of your parents, grandparents, great grandparents. I view my life as much better on many parameters (perhaps not all - They did have better communities and social bonds for one) and I'd rather live today than 100 years ago. The internet, AI, the microwave, fridge, washing machine, indoor plumbing, toilets, access to the world from my room, working with the world from my room, better education are all vastly underrated, undervalued, underpriced. People sometimes mention inequality but we live in a world where income mobility is much more probable than in any time in the past. There are numerous examples of people who started with nothing and built fortunes. Today, you need a good business idea or a good education (or a good youtube channel?) and you can be in another class by the time you die (and a bad idea or bad habits to go down). The probabilities are still low but it has improved. Up until 50 years ago you need to do much much more.
To some these views may appear normal and mainstream but in my view I believe we have overlooked what's happened in the last few centuries and don't appreciate enough how the world got better.
If it still is hard to convince your self how good the world has become and why the values and ideas that led us to progress must be religiously held onto, just look at the charts listed on https://ourworldindata.org. Here are some -
These charts are miracles in my view but where are the devout supporters ? Where is the collective gathering of the masses to celebrate and rejoice? If there's anything to learn from religion & politics its the ability to win over hearts and souls. The invisible hand like the geniuses and heroes behind what got the world here remain hidden from view.
So to me at least, the developed world and its ideas are worth looking up to and striving for. The problems that come up with these ideas and models needs solutions but not at the cost of turning away and going back to the past. But to conclude, we should see the below chart (note how it does not say the world was much better.)
Even if these are underappreciated, overlooked in pop culture, there is a section of society and our world that understands this, these values and ideas and indirectly we are heading towards them. We want to have better healthcare, better education, better incomes, we know what we want and we want what the developed world has but how to get there is where there is confusion and debate. What I add is that we must look at what got the west there and pick up on the good parts & ideas. What I add is that the past was not better and today is. What I add is that world is much better than it seems. What I add is that what got us here is overlooked and under-appreciated.
Additional Notes from AI -
Classical liberalism is a political and economic philosophy that emerged during the Enlightenment period, emphasizing individual rights, limited government, free markets, and the rule of law. Let me explain its key ideas:
Individual Rights and Liberty - Classical liberals believe people have natural rights to life, liberty, and property that exist independently of government. These rights include freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and economic activity.
Limited Government - The government's role should be restricted primarily to protecting individual rights, maintaining law and order, and providing certain public goods like national defense. Classical liberals are skeptical of government power and favor constitutional limits on state authority.
Free Market Economics - They advocate for free trade, private property rights, and minimal government intervention in the economy. Adam Smith's "invisible hand" concept suggests that voluntary market exchanges naturally lead to efficient outcomes.
Rule of Law - Everyone, including government officials, should be subject to clear, consistent laws applied equally. This prevents arbitrary rule and protects individual rights.
Civil Society - Classical liberals emphasize the importance of voluntary associations, private charity, and civil institutions operating independently of government control.
Reason and Progress - They believe in human rationality and the potential for social progress through scientific advancement, free inquiry, and open debate.
On Human Development - The concept emphasizes three core dimensions:
Health - Including life expectancy, access to healthcare, nutrition, and overall wellbeing
Education - Encompassing access to quality education, literacy rates, and opportunities for lifelong learning
Standard of Living - Including income levels, employment opportunities, and access to resources
But human development also considers additional factors like:
Political Freedom - The ability to participate in democratic processes and civil society Gender Equality - Equal opportunities and rights regardless of gender Environmental Sustainability - Maintaining ecological systems that support human wellbeing Social Justice - Fair distribution of resources and opportunities Cultural Expression - Freedom to maintain cultural practices and identity
The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) popularized this approach through its Human Development Index (HDI), which ranks countries based on health, education, and income indicators. This represented a shift from viewing development purely in terms of economic growth to a more holistic understanding of human welfare and potential.
On recommendations for Developing Economies -
This is a complex topic that requires careful consideration of specific contexts and challenges. Let me provide some key areas for potential development, while acknowledging that each country has unique circumstances:
Economic Development: A diversified economy is crucial for sustained growth. This includes developing manufacturing capabilities, supporting small and medium enterprises, and investing in sectors with competitive advantages. Many successful developing countries have focused on export-oriented industries while building domestic market strength.
Education and Skills Development: Investing in human capital through quality education at all levels is essential. This includes:
- Universal primary and secondary education
- Technical and vocational training aligned with industry needs
- Higher education focused on innovation and research
Infrastructure Development: Modern infrastructure supports economic growth and quality of life:
- Transportation networks (roads, ports, airports)
- Reliable electricity and water systems
- Digital infrastructure and internet connectivity
- Healthcare facilities
Institutional Strengthening: Strong institutions are fundamental for development:
- Transparent and efficient governance systems
- Clear regulatory frameworks
- Independent judiciary
- Anti-corruption measures
(Neil - We can see progress on 3 to 4 but what about the last point? Where is that?)
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