A thorough article on this topic: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-24835822

That is of course an uplifting read, and I think it's also true that people the world over (with a few exceptions) generally regard themselves as more happy than unhappy.

Jesus is reputed to have said "You will always have the poor among you"...I suppose the goalposts will have to be moved!

But despite all this, I am ultimately pessimistic in nature because I am mortal and because it does not feel me with merriment that for humanity, this is the greatest time in history. Even things like too much traffic get me down, nevermind no more pandas.

It does seem however that there are irreversible changes happening that will greatly diminish the prospect of people living under tyrannies...which is nice.