I had a discussion recently with a young relative about capitalism and free enterprise, and I realised something rather important. People don’t understand that abundance is not a zero sum game.

I’m not sure where these young people are getting it from, but they seem to think that there is only a limited amount of wealth in the world, and if some people have more, that means that other people necessarily have less.

Now, it is true that the resources of this planet are finite, and need to be husbanded carefully. But the human spirit is not!

The human spirit is the source of true wealth, given that human ingenuity and innovation have greatly increased our wealth compared to times past, and we can trust that they will come through again – to save the planet, or to move us off it if necessary.

There was a time when only the elites could read and write. Nowadays, the large majority of adults in most countries can read. The Internet has made marketing and learning incredibly accessible, in ways that were never possible before.

The #MeToo movement and the rise of people of colour and other minorities are bringing forth social movements that are going to change the world. Freedom and innovation can thrive, and not just for white males.

We will move away from fossil fuels and the factory model of education. Young people are no longer willing to put up with inhumane treatment and discrimination.

Social enterprises, which have altruistic values at their core, will triumph over those businesses that do not put their customers and employees at the top of their list.

If we can avoid being paralysed by fear and xenophobia, the twenty-first century could be humanity’s most exciting time yet.

The kids are alright.