Huge Global Data Set: How's The World Getting On?

[Tim Smith]

http://www.gapminder.org/data/

If you're ever curious about how things are trending in the world, here's a great place to look.

No spin. Just data.

Gapminder gives you national averages of just about everything, usually with decades or even centuries of data behind it. Click on the "visualize" icon and you can watch an animated graph of history unfold before your eyes.

Natural resources, human life expectancy, economic trends, morality from disease....

Were the good old days really what they were cracked up to be? Are we teetering on the edge of disaster? What happens to human population growth when mortality rates, infant mortality, and poverty increase?

Give it a spin and see what you think.

[Jerry Rapp]

back in 1964 or so my Grandpa said the world is going to hell in a hand basket. But we are still here. I won't turn this into a political discussion, because I believe in common sense, and Phil doesn't like political talk. You are just trying to stir the pot.

[Guest]

Cool site, thanks for sharing.

[bfishn]

Thanks!

[Tim Smith]

back in 1964 or so my Grandpa said the world is going to hell in a hand basket. But we are still here. I won't turn this into a political discussion, because I believe in common sense, and Phil doesn't like political talk. You are just trying to stir the pot.

It's data, Jerry.

[jdmidwest]

It's data, Jerry.

But it was generated to promote an agenda.

[Al Agnew]

But it was generated to promote an agenda.

Huh?? Did you look at the site and read all the material on it? I see no agenda other than combating ignorance and misconceptions.

[bfishn]

back in 1964 or so my Grandpa said the world is going to hell in a hand basket. But we are still here...

If you'd actually paid attention to any of the data presented Jerry, you'd have found support for your position there (see the "Don't Panic" video, it's easier to chew than the graphs).

I spent a couple very interesting hours last night browsing the material and didn't even scratch the surface of what's offered there. It's not half as exciting as a collection of conspiracy theories, but statistics seldom are.

[Mitch f]

It's very difficult for me (and I'm sure many others) to take the time to digest all of this data. When you work for a living and are raising a family you just don't have the time it takes to investigate all the variables. Since I work with data sets almost every day at work, I know full well that the quality of the data is of utmost importance, followed by the manipulation of the data to come with an answer that everyone can understand and use it to find the root cause of a problem.....I also know the presenter of the data set can lead you down a thought path that may or may not be correct.

How can we know for certain that the individuals collecting the data aren't adding variability?

[bfishn]

How can we know for certain that the individuals collecting the data aren't adding variability?

By peer review. By following the footnotes to see how the data was produced. By using that same path to see who produced it, who paid for it, and their potential motivations for doing so.

I'm certainly not claiming to have done that on this particular collection yet, but the sources are all available to pursue, unlike much of the other babble out there that offers nothing but emotion grabbing headlines with no trace to basis in fact. Anyone that's not willing to divulge their data sources is undeserving of attention beyond entertainment purposes.

You're right that it takes a little time. Just like most anything else of value.