Some real good news, even in these bad times

At a time when the headlines are filled with financial crises and violence, it is especially important to recognize the creativity of many governments in fighting poverty, disease and hunger.

The point is not merely to make ourselves feel a little better, but rather to confront one of the world's gravest threats: The widespread pessimism that today's problems are too big to be solved. Studying the successes gives us the knowledge and confidence to step up our shared efforts to solve today's great global challenges.

Hats off, first, to Mexico for pioneering the idea of "conditional cash transfers" to poor households. These transfers enable and encourage those households to invest in their children's health, nutrition, and schooling.