“Getting Better: Why Global Development Is Succeeding—and How We Can Improve the World Even More” by Charles Kenny is an optimistic take on global development, countering the often pessimistic narrative surrounding poverty, health, and progress. Kenny challenges the prevailing notion that global development efforts are failing, instead presenting compelling data to argue that the world has made tremendous strides in improving quality of life, health, education, and overall well-being for billions of people. His central thesis is that while economic growth has not been evenly distributed, global improvements in health, education, and access to technology have been remarkable.

The book opens with a provocative question: If development is so hard, why is the world getting better? This sets the stage for a detailed examination of how human progress has unfolded in recent decades, offering readers both a clearer understanding of global development and a roadmap for how the world can continue to improve.

In the first section, Kenny introduces readers to the broader trends in global development, providing a detailed picture of where we’ve come from and where we are headed. He highlights improvements in life expectancy, literacy rates, and access to basic services like clean water. The central point is that these indicators of human well-being have improved dramatically, even in some of the world’s poorest countries.

One notable example he offers is the eradication of smallpox, a major achievement of international cooperation. By illustrating how coordinated efforts have made once-pervasive diseases a thing of the past, Kenny paints a picture of the potential for continued progress. The section also discusses how cell phone penetration in Africa has revolutionized communication and created new economic opportunities, despite the region’s ongoing struggles with poverty.

Memorable Quote: “People today live longer, healthier lives with more access to knowledge and culture than at any time in history. And that’s true not just in wealthy countries, but around the world.”

In the second part of the book, Kenny confronts a common assumption in development economics: that economic growth is the only way to measure success. He presents evidence showing that while many developing countries have not experienced substantial economic growth, they have still managed to make significant gains in areas like public health and education. The key argument here is that growth is not a prerequisite for development, and there are many other dimensions of progress that can improve people’s lives even without massive increases in GDP.

An example Kenny uses to support this claim is Bangladesh, which has made significant progress in reducing child mortality and improving literacy, despite its relatively low economic growth. The country’s success in deploying community health workers to reduce the spread of diseases like diarrhea and pneumonia is presented as a model for how improvements in human well-being can be achieved without immediate economic gains.

Memorable Quote: “Countries don’t need to grow rich to grow healthier, smarter, and freer. And the things that matter most to people—health, education, security—are all improving, even where economic growth is slow.”

Kenny dedicates an entire chapter to health, one of the most important dimensions of human development. He argues that the world has witnessed nothing short of a miracle in terms of life expectancy, with global averages rising dramatically over the past century. One of the key points Kenny makes is that the biggest gains have been in the poorest countries, where advancements in vaccination, sanitation, and medical care have helped save millions of lives.

The story of improved access to vaccines is central to this chapter. Kenny describes how a combination of international organizations, governments, and private companies have worked together to ensure that vaccines reach the world’s most vulnerable populations. He particularly emphasizes the success of initiatives like the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, which has brought the world to the brink of eliminating the disease entirely.

Memorable Quote: “The fact that a child born in the world’s poorest country today has a better chance of surviving to adulthood than a child born in a rich country a century ago is one of the great triumphs of human progress.”

Education is another critical area where Kenny highlights global progress. Literacy rates have soared, and more children than ever are attending school, even in the poorest parts of the world. He argues that these gains are crucial because education is not only a fundamental human right but also a key driver of long-term development.

One example Kenny uses is the success of Kenya’s free primary education program, which was introduced in 2003. By removing fees for primary school, Kenya saw a massive influx of children entering the education system, giving millions of children access to education who would otherwise have been excluded.

Kenny also discusses the rise of online education as a game-changer, particularly for people in developing countries. With access to smartphones and the internet, many are able to access high-quality education through platforms like Khan Academy, even in remote areas.

In this chapter, Kenny explores how technology, especially the spread of the internet and mobile phones, has played a transformative role in development. He emphasizes that technological leapfrogging allows developing countries to skip certain stages of development and adopt modern technology without needing to build the same infrastructure that developed nations once did.

The rise of mobile banking in Africa, particularly the success of platforms like M-Pesa in Kenya, is a prime example of this leapfrogging. By allowing people without access to traditional banking services to participate in the digital economy, mobile banking has empowered millions of people, especially in rural areas.

Kenny argues that these technological innovations can have ripple effects across sectors, from education to healthcare. He presents data showing how telemedicine is making healthcare more accessible to people in rural areas, with doctors able to provide consultations via mobile phone, reducing the need for travel to distant hospitals.

In the final chapters, Kenny outlines what needs to be done to sustain and further the progress already made. He emphasizes that continued investment in basic infrastructure, particularly in health and education, is crucial. However, he also notes the importance of good governance, which he argues is often the missing piece in many developing countries.

One of the key recommendations Kenny makes is to focus on the fundamentals: ensuring that every child receives basic healthcare, clean water, and access to education. He calls for a global commitment to these core areas, which he believes will yield the highest returns in terms of human well-being.

Kenny concludes “Getting Better” on a hopeful note, reminding readers that while much work remains, the world is already on a remarkable upward trajectory. He cautions against focusing too much on economic growth at the expense of human well-being, arguing instead for a more holistic approach to development that prioritizes health, education, and technology.

“Getting Better: Why Global Development Is Succeeding—and How We Can Improve the World Even More” has had a significant impact in shifting the narrative around global development. Charles Kenny’s data-driven optimism offers a refreshing perspective in a field often dominated by discussions of failure and stagnation. His focus on health, education, and technology as key drivers of human progress continues to be relevant, particularly in light of ongoing challenges like pandemics and climate change.

In the current global climate, where inequality and poverty remain pressing issues, Kenny’s argument that progress is possible—even in the face of adversity—resonates more than ever.

Charles Kenny’s “Getting Better” challenges the conventional wisdom around development and presents a compelling case for why the world is improving and how we can ensure that progress continues. By focusing on human well-being rather than just economic growth, Kenny opens the door to a more inclusive and optimistic vision of the future. His book serves as both a celebration of human progress and a guide to what we can do to make the world an even better place for future generations.