Rosling Summary

         Hans Rosling created a presentation entitled, “Let my dataset change your mindset”. In this presentation Rosling’s purpose was to inform the audience of a changing paradigm occurring in the world. Through various graphs showing the relation between health care, life expectancy, and per capita income of the world’s countries, he demonstrates how the world is converging. Hence, debunking the term developing world. Students of Rosling had the mindset that the western world had a longer life, with a smaller family in contradiction from the developing world, who had a shorter life and a bigger family. These students held this assumption, which stemmed from facts in 1950.

            By conducting a lot of research and surveys Rosling is able to create graphs that show the myth of the poor health, and large family developing world to be nonexistent. In the late 1900’s those “developing countries” commence to incorporate a health service to their citizens’ life. Regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Asia, and Latin America now have a higher life expectancy, and child survival percentage. However, when Rosling views the regions by countries, there is a vast difference between several countries. For example, Mauritius presents a high child survival percentage of 98%, while Sierra Leone still has one of 70%. The specific analysis of countries shows the reality that there still are countries that are going through that developing phase. Through his data, Rosling challenges the assumptions of the developing world, what he perceives as an antique ideology. The Sub-Sahara, south Asia, and Latin America regions are no longer regions in which its inhabitants don’t possess basic hygiene items, or access to some type of health care. It is of importance to note all the development that is occurring in the world, to understand and have a new mindset, a mindset of convergence. With this mindset of convergence comes the comprehension of the important role that America plays in helping to solve the remaining issue of individuals with poor health and life expectancy.

            Rosling concludes that the issue with the remaining developing countries is based on their struggle for sovereignty, such as civil war and issues with government. He proves to the audience that the mindset of the western vs. the developing world is a myth. Through the collection of thorough specific data he is able to deliver new conclusions that greatly contradict an existing paradigm. The audience should understand that the world is moving towards the same status, of good health services and long life, sharing the same ultimate goal, which all countries are capable of reaching.