There is no doubt that globalization "can work" for poor people (or, better, for poor countries). Global integration can be a powerful force for reducing poverty and empowering people. The question of whether it "does work" is much less certain. According to Ian Goldin of the Oxford Martin School, the... Read more →

Looking at the language web in 2008, we see a surprisingly clear map of Europe and Asia. The language linkages invite explanations around geopolitics, linguistics, and historical associations. The outlines of the Iberian and Scandinavian Peninsulas are clearly visible, which suggest geographic rather than purely linguistic associations. Examining links between... Read more →

Are you curious to see the distribution of searches around the world in terms of language used by people searching on Google? This is the answer, and it provides a really interesting way of visualizing that information. The Search Globe visualizes searches from one day, and shows the language of... Read more →

This mashup of the maps of the Facebook digital connections and the NASA's World at night is very interesting - and it would be even more if it was possible to draw general conclusions. Unfortunately, it is not, with one very clear exception. First, since China is quickly becoming the... Read more →