Last January I noted the optimistic view of prospects for the world economy (“Globalisation’s future is the big long-term question”, January 9). But I also stressed two contrasts: the first was between this optimism and the risks being created by the excess of savings over investment in big parts of the world economy; and the second was between the economic optimism and pessimism about political prospects (“A divided world of economic success and political turmoil”, January 31).