3 ms·

I'm immediately suspicious when I see this map of the world with countries shaded by how "free" they are. What are the units of freedom? What's the color scale?

by gaze 4y ago

I'm immediately suspicious when I see this map of the world with countries shaded by how "free" they are. What are the units of freedom? What's the color scale? How is freedom measured and who is measuring it? Why does it even make sense to express freedom as a number?

karaterobot 4y ago
If the answers exist, they will be in the PDF report linked in the article. https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A19-GxR-Report-22.pdf https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A19-GxR...
SiempreViernes 4y ago
It's just a new index created out of V-Dem data dude, no need to go full Spy vs Spy paranoid. Being an index it naturally doesn't have units, you'll have to give meaning to the scale yourself. Here is a bit of quote from the methodology section if you are curios: """ In producing the Global Expression Report, ARTICLE 19 selected the 25 indicators described below which best matched with our broad and holistic view of freedom of expression. These indicators were included in a Bayesian measurement model for countries with available data from 2000 to 2021 to create our metric: the GxR. V-Dem draws on theoretical and methodological expertise from its worldwide team to produce data in the most objective and reliable way possible. Approximately half of the indicators in the V-Dem data set are based on factual information obtainable from official documents such as constitutions and government records. The remainder consists of more subjective assessments on topics like democratic and governing practices and compliance with de jure rules. On such issues, typically five experts provide ratings for the country, thematic area, and time period for which they have expertise. """ More starting at page 52, but there's really no big mystery here, it's just quantitative sociology.

3 ms·

I'm immediately suspicious when I see this map of the world with countries shaded by how "free" they are. What are the units of freedom? What's the color scale?

by gaze 4y ago

karaterobot 4y ago
If the answers exist, they will be in the PDF report linked in the article. https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A19-GxR-Report-22.pdf https://www.article19.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/A19-GxR...
SiempreViernes 4y ago
It's just a new index created out of V-Dem data dude, no need to go full Spy vs Spy paranoid. Being an index it naturally doesn't have units, you'll have to give meaning to the scale yourself. Here is a bit of quote from the methodology section if you are curios: """ In producing the Global Expression Report, ARTICLE 19 selected the 25 indicators described below which best matched with our broad and holistic view of freedom of expression. These indicators were included in a Bayesian measurement model for countries with available data from 2000 to 2021 to create our metric: the GxR. V-Dem draws on theoretical and methodological expertise from its worldwide team to produce data in the most objective and reliable way possible. Approximately half of the indicators in the V-Dem data set are based on factual information obtainable from official documents such as constitutions and government records. The remainder consists of more subjective assessments on topics like democratic and governing practices and compliance with de jure rules. On such issues, typically five experts provide ratings for the country, thematic area, and time period for which they have expertise. """ More starting at page 52, but there's really no big mystery here, it's just quantitative sociology.