In Bill and Melinda Gates’s 2014 Annual Letter, they discuss three myths that block progress for the poor: “poor countries are doomed to stay poor”; “foreign aid is a big waste”; and “saving lives leads to overpopulation.” They write, “The belief that the world can’t solve extreme poverty and disease isn’t just mistaken. It is harmful. That’s why in this year’s letter we take apart some of the myths that slow down the work. The next time you hear these myths, we hope you will do the same” (January 2014). The Wall Street Journal also published a version of the letter (1/17).