Statistics Archives

Data-Driven Decisions in Parenting: A How-To Guide

How do you make data-driven decisions as a parent? What is actionable data? How do you apply data to your situation? Health economist Emily Oster claims that decisions around parenting are often overwhelming because you must navigate moral judgments, contradictory advice, and confusing data. In Cribsheet, she explains how to make data-driven decisions in parenting by gathering actionable data. Read on for Oster’s guide to making data-driven parenting decisions, including each step involved.

GDP and Standard of Living: Are They Even Related?

How accurately does national GDP reflect a country’s quality of life? What are the flaws with benchmarking a national standard of living against GDP? Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is commonly used as an indicator of a national standard of living. However, this is not necessarily the case. According to Vaclav Smil, the author of Numbers Don’t Lie, there are several reasons why we shouldn’t use GDP as a measure of a country’s quality of life. Here’s a look at GDP and standard of living.

Questioning the Validity of the World Happiness Report

What is the World Happiness Report? How accurately do the WHR rankings reflect national standards of living? The World Happiness Report aims to rank national happiness based on respondents’ answers about their quality of life. According to Vaclav Smil, the author of Numbers Don’t Life, we shouldn’t take the survey’s results at face value. Here’s why the World Happiness Report isn’t fully accurate.

Numbers Don’t Lie: Book Overview (Vaclav Smil)

What is Vaclav Smil’s Numbers Don’t Lie about? What is the key message to take away from the book? In his book Numbers Don’t Lie, Canadian scientist and economist Vaclav Smil wants to help you understand the world by understanding numbers and statistics. Numbers can help you see the world more clearly, but only if you know what they’re actually saying. Below is a brief overview of Vaclav Smil’s Numbers Don’t Lie: 71 Things You Need to Know About the World.

What Is the Most Accurate Quality of Life Indicator?

What is the best measure of a country’s standard of living? What is the problem with using GDP per capita as a quality of life indicator? According to Vaclav Smil, the author of Numbers Don’t Lie, the most important measure of the quality of life in a country is not GDP per capita, as many people believe. It’s the infant mortality rate. Here’s why infant mortality more accurately reflects the standard of living.

Is the World Getting Better or Worse? Data on Lifestyle & Health

Is the world getting better or worse? Have lifestyles around the world improved over time? What do the data on disease, hunger, and mortality indicate? Steven Pinker argues that the world is getting better for humans everywhere. He looks at data in several categories, including lifestyle and health. According to Pinker, we see improvements in both of these areas. Keep reading to learn why Pinker is optimistic.

The State of the Environment: Why Steven Pinker Is Optimistic

What’s the state of the environment? What’s the outlook for the future? Steven Pinker believes that the world is getting better. One of his measures of Enlightenment progress is the state of the environment. This assessment is perhaps the one that poses the greatest challenge and is the basis for the strongest pushback against his argument that things are getting better. Keep reading to learn why Pinker is optimistic about the environment.

The State of Democracy in the World: There’s a Reason for Hope

Is the world becoming more democratic? How can we tell? What do the data indicate? In his book Enlightenment Now, psychologist Steven Pinker provides statistics to help us understand the state of democracy in the world. He considers factors such as human rights and capital punishment. Keep reading to learn why Pinker believes that the world is headed in the right direction when it comes to democracy.

Is the World More Peaceful Today? Steven Pinker Says Yes

Is the world more peaceful today than in years past? What do the statistics tell us? In his book Enlightenment Now, Steven Pinker defends the assertions in his previous book that world violence has declined. He updates the data to show that he was right in 2011 and that he’s still right, as of 2018 when his more recent book was published. Continue reading to learn why Pinker believes that we’re in an unprecedented time of peace.

The Global Distribution of Wealth: Good News or Bad News?

What is the status of—and the outlook for—the global distribution of wealth? Are the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer? Steven Pinker wants to set the record straight on wealth and inequality in the world. He presents compelling data regarding inequality, poverty, and social spending that might come as a surprise to many. Continue reading to learn Pinker’s argument and for a brief discussion of the prospect of a Universal Basic Income.