Exposing the Myth of a Better World: How Academic Misinformation Conceals Global Poverty Levels
W. S. Roberts

Abstract
This case study confronts academic misinformation on global poverty levels through the analysis of graphics and commentary developed by a University of Oxford–affiliated think tank. The investigation reveals false positives in the group’s charts that invite readers to conclude that the population living in extreme poverty has plunged over the last two centuries. The graphics are widely disseminated and used by celebrity thought leaders to counter opposing viewpoints by the public and to admonish the press under the false pretext of negativity bias. This paper exposes reputable sources, their fallacious arguments, and their biases to expand our understanding of the roots of misinformation in the post-truth era.

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