Optimism as a metric
Improvements in the human condition are easier to create and measure when times are tough. Starving? Eat. Thirsty? Drink. Homeless? Find shelter or build a home if you can afford it (if you're in Goa, good luck). --- In times of abundance though, things get slightly tricky. How do you measure if your life is good when you have everything you need? Income? No, there are too…