Making data safe for non-geeks
While ideologues have been duking it out over globalization for a decade, economists have been quietly collecting the data—on health, income, fertility, you name it.
These data matter because smart people disagree about globalization. Data provide a common ground for dialogue, and a means to resolve murky theoretical disputes. Also, a simple chart can stick in people’s heads and serve as a lasting “mental map” in a way words alone cannot.
But unfortunately, data are boring. Most non-economists don’t know where to get it, what to do with it, or why they should give a damn anyways.
Not anymore. Welcome to Gapminder, a Swedish non-profit collaborative that offers cool—and free—interactive software to help non-economists get smart about global data.
Their slogan: “Making sense of the world by having fun with statistics.” Go download one of their awesome flash modules, push the “play” button, and see why.
Here’s a screenshot that speaks volumes—national income vs. infant survival rates for OECD countries, between 1995 and 1999. Note the positive correlation. In the pre-anti-globalization era, that’s what economists used to call “a rising tide lifting all boats”:
(Thanks to Mahalanobis for the pointer.)
Posted by Andrew on Wednesday March 17, 2004 | Feedback?
