> Globalization was working; development was succeeding; the gap between rich and poor countries was closing. So there was tremendous reason for optimism about

> Globalization was working; development was succeeding; the gap between rich and poor countries was closing. So there was tremendous reason for optimism about the future. Even if that had turned out true, so what? The gap between rich and poor countries closing is not the same thing as the gap between the rich and poor closing!