Methods and data

III. First Pessimists, 1844 (Friedrich Engels)

IV. Classical Pessimists (Hammonds)

Methods and data

V. Modern Optimists (Ashton and Clapham)

Methods and data

VI. New Pessimists (Hobsbawm)

A. Social indices
B. Unemployment
C. Consumption

VII. New Optimists (Hartwell)

Methods and data

VIII. Contemporary Refinements (Lindert and Williamson)

A. Periodization
B. Quantity vs quality of life
C. Importance of subjectivity