Calculating columns

A comparison of population growth rate (i.e. % increase in population) with GDP for the entire country only makes sense if we expect some link between the size of a country and the population growth rate. To adjust for this, we can examine the GDP per. person rather than the overall GDP.

Updated scatter chart of pop. growth versus GDP per person

So, it appears that generally population growth is lower the higher the GDP per person - but this is by no means a concrete rule. We note that Cook Island and the North Mariana Islands are now both in evidence!

To create this chart, we again copied the scripted dataset and this time pointed it at the CIAWF population statistics (rawdata_2119.txt). We then created a new joint dataset that joined our previous joint dataset to the population statistics. Additionally, we added a computed column to the dataset to give the "GDP per person" figure.

A computed column in BIRT

At which point we simply needed to create a scatter chart from the new joint dataset.


Alternatively, we could have used the CIAWF GDP per Capita dataset (rawdata_2004.txt)... but where's the fun in that. However, it must be said that the CIAWF figures are probably *better* as they at least use population and GDP estimates from the same year whereas we have used the latest estimates for each, whatever years they came from.