1950s: A man like Olaf, who is sixty years old, is considered quite elderly, since the life expectancy for men who were born at or before the beginning of the twentieth century is less than fifty years.

Today: In developed nations, the average life expectancy for men is about seventy-five, and a man of sixty has not yet reached retirement age.

1950s: Europe is still recovering from the economic effects of World War II, while the United States is experiencing unprecedented prosperity. Americans are rich compared to Europeans, as evidenced by Jim's clothing, his roll of cash, and his generous gift to Olaf.

Today: Americans continue to be among the wealthiest people on earth and to have a higher standard of living than Europeans. Although the economic slowdown in the first years of the new millennium has been a global event, the American economy...