And fear is a powerful emotion. So let us not chase every speculative rabbit down every fearful burrow. Let us simply confront some of the things we know. We know that more wealth means people live longer. People in high income countries live longer than people in low income countries.
Wealthy people live longer than poor people.
We know that while the move from low income to middle income levels tends to increase pressure on the environment, the move from middle income to high income generally reduces such pressure. The air and water quality of the US is far better than China or India's. London has much better air and water than Bangkok. We know that economic deprivation or pressure reduces concern for the environment, economic prosperity and confidence increases it. Though the connection is a bit weaker, wealth is also positively connected to freedom and democracy.