What makes you think improving living standards are inevitable. That is certanly not true in the past. Sub-saharan life expectancy has dropped.
Also, Europe is in big trouble. They are having the problems due to the eurozone, but in the middle of this euro crisis we are forgetting other European problems, such as
- youth who are not able to get into the labout market and are not qualified.
- Immigration of people who mostly end up on the dole. In Europe this is a big problem because many of the new immigrants are belivers in radical islam, and that causes culture clash.
- The rise of the populist left. Which is far right xenophobic positions combined with far left economical positions. If the past is any indicator, that is not a recipe for success.
- Aging, people are not getting enough children. Not enough children means too many old people for every person in working age.
US have many of the same problems. Asia, is not getting enough children at all, and that risk destroying their finances. They seems to be unable to increase their fertility rate. Africa's population is growing out of control, their fertility rate is stuck at high levels in many African countries. After a while, they won't be able to support themselves. So I am not very positive about the future.
However, there is some countries who inspire hope. South Ameirca is doing decently well, and so is China and India. They will bring a lot of people out of poverty.