Pinker has a pretty good explanation in his book, "Enlightenment Now". His answer boils down to: 1. More people now live in a market economy which produces mor

Pinker has a pretty good explanation in his book, "Enlightenment Now". His answer boils down to: 1. More people now live in a market economy which produces more goods and services for everyone, even poor people 2. Better leadership. Eg. In 1976 Mao in a single act greatly improved the trajectory of most of the world's poor - he died. 3. End of cold war meant end of US and Soviet support for many civil wars and ugly dictatorships. 4. Globalization and industrialization 5. Science and technology