# Multimedia 

Multimedia 

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- [Podcasts](/podcasts)
- [Cato Video](/multimedia/cato-video)
- [Video Series](/search/category/video-series)
- [Events](/multimedia/events)

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Video 

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Cato Video • January 5, 2015 

# Pessimism in a World of Increasing Abundance 

[https://​www​.cato​.org/​e​v​e​n​t​s​/​e​v​e​r​y​t​h​i​n​g​-​g​e​t​t​i​n​g​-​b​e​t​t​e​r​-​w​h​y​-​d​o​-​w​e​-​r​e​m​a​i​n​-​s​o​-​p​e​s​s​i​m​istic](https://www.cato.org/events/everything-getting-better-why-do-we-remain-so-pessimistic)

Evidence from academic institutions and international organizations shows dramatic improvements in human well-being. These improvements are especially striking in the developing world. Unfortunately, there is often a wide gap between reality and public perceptions, including that of many policymakers, scholars in unrelated fields, and intelligent lay persons. To make matters worse, the media emphasizes bad news, while ignoring many positive long-term trends.

Video produced by Caleb O. Brown and Austin Bragg.

[![Creative Commons License](/build/cato_2020/images/creative-commons.svg)](http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/) 
This work is licensed under a [Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/). 

##### Featuring 

##### Steven Pinker 

[![Square face shot of Caleb O. Brown.](/sites/cato.org/files/styles/author_picture/public/2021-01/cbrown_sq.jpg?itok=zSWLm8kR)](/people/caleb-o-brown) 

##### [Caleb O. Brown](/people/caleb-o-brown)

Former Director of Multimedia, Host and Executive Producer, *Cato Daily Podcast*, Cato Institute