What's Your Indifference Point Regarding A Better World?

Would you rather have $100 today or $10,000 in 20 years? How about $1,000 today? $5,000? Economists call the point at which you would be just as happy to take the reward today vs. at some future date your “indifference point.”

Now apply the concept to making the world a better place. Would you rather the world get a little bit better today or a lot better (by a magnitude of 100x) in 100 years? If the Messiah came today, and made everyone 10% happier, but would not bring an end to epidemics or crime or war, or came in 100,000 years and brought utopia, which would you prefer? Now ask—what’s your “indifference point”?