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JAN. 22, 2015
David Leonhardt
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At the same time, much of the world is enjoying one of history’s most rapid increases in prosperity. Life expectancy has risen more than six years just since 1990. The world, to quote the title of a book by the economist Charles Kenny, is “Getting Better.” As Mr. Gates says: “The world is actually improving a lot. We’re trying to deliver both the good news on the progress and the possibility to do more.”
That possibility undoubtedly exists. But on many issues — in Africa and in the United States — doing more and doing better will require doing things differently. Progress isn’t inevitable just because it’s happened before.
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A version of this article appears in print on January 22, 2015, on page A3 of the New York edition with the headline: Africa’s Economy Is Rising, and Focus Turns to Food. Order Reprints| Today’s Paper|Subscribe
