13
July 2026
Economic Prosperity
Economic prosperity is not something that falls from the sky; it is the result of a particular social and economic system. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is rich in natural resources, yet its people live in extreme poverty. Switzerland, by contrast, has few natural resources, yet it is one of the richest countries in the world.
The world in which we Westerners live is the one with fewer poor people than at any other time in history and than in any other part of the world. From this point of view, our societies are the best that have ever existed. The proof is that overcrowded boats full of people are willing to face deadly dangers in order to reach what are often considered the least attractive parts of our world.