While life is improving in the developing world, in the developed world, it’s been the opposite story in the 21st century. Living standards have declined for most people, and in this new poll, 73% expect life to be harder for the next generation as they decline further. We seem stuck in an economic orthodoxy that has no way to fix this, and is so entrenched that not even voting can bring alternatives.

Meanwhile, the day comes closer when AI & robotics can do most work, but for pennies an hour. We won’t have voted for it, but it almost certainly spell the end of much of our existing economic thinking.

Do you think this global dissatisfaction across the Western world will speed up the birth of an alternative? Will it encourage more economists to try to work out what this new world will be like? Do you think it will radicalize people to more readily accept ideas they might have once thought outlandish?

Western voters united in despair over future Large majorities believe governments are failing, democracy is weakening and life will be harder for the next generation, according to a poll