What I want to create is a set of encyclopedic wiki pages on each country, with useful information for the student of Austrian Economics. A large part can be generated automatically - basic description, some features, stats - but that is all window dressing. The really interesting stuff will be links to other resources, notes and whole articles on whatever is useful to know about a country. I have created an initial set of countries for demonstration (Albania, Canada, Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Mexico, Slovakia, United Kingdom, United States) and added some material to Iceland - and will add to more countries as time allows. Next week I'll generate the remaining countries and will continue to extend them.
There is of course no chance for me to even come close to finishing this in any meaningful way, so here's where I'm looking for your help. Besides feedback, I am mainly interested in the following topics:
There is much knowledge out there, but it is often hard to find. So, let's make something like a Wikipedia page with a focus on the economical material. :)
If anyone is interested in a specific country (or even comes from one) and has useful, respectable resources, please add them.
Mises Wiki | Economic Resources and Books (search engine)
Seeing this Wiki, I have a question: Why does the LvMI not host a Wiki for the Austrian School and libertarianism? Sure would be useful to use the power of the intellectual masses around here.
I noted your project and will contribute a bit to the Germany page in the near future.
I think this is an excellent idea! I already like some of the information there, especially those handy little tables on debt ratios and revenues/expenses. It's fun to look at how constant or falling gov. revenues have been in the U.S. despite what are probably rising taxes. If I have some time, I'll try to add some information on countries I've lived in,
Actually, there is a wiki on the LvMI pages, but it has several issues I couldn't work around. It also seemed to be set up in the wrong way, but the choice was to complain, or do my own thing and demonstrate that it can be done differently. Which is being worked on. :)
Thanks! Every little bit helps!
Peter Sidor:Actually, there is a wiki on the LvMI pages, but it has several issues I couldn't work around. It also seemed to be set up in the wrong way, but the choice was to complain, or do my own thing and demonstrate that it can be done differently. Which is being worked on. :)
Hm, what a pity that the software of this site does not work that well like more mainstream products. But that is why there is competition and we advocate it: So that there are incentives for others to do it better. The only other libertarian wiki i know of is the one at vforvoluntary.com.
Peter Sidor:Thanks! Every little bit helps!
You're welcome.
http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Manual:Installation_guide
"The only other libertarian wiki i know of is the one at vforvoluntary.com."
There is also Libertapedia, although it is more political and organizes its content differently. The Libertarian FAQ in turn seems rather sleepy. (Okay, plus LibertarianGuide, but that is more of a link farm made by Stephen Kinsella.) So there. :)
BUMP!
I've added quite a bit on Greece (some ancient history, corruption and lots on the current crisis) and a little here and there. More details are always welcome; any ideas to the whole concept before I start mass-generating countries?
And a final BUMP!
All countries have been generated, they will be expanded as time allows. Thanks for words of support.
Great idea, guys! I hope this project continues to expand. Thanks for your work!
Just read the thread. I’ll try to expand the article on Albania with some public statistics or whatever else I can find for a reputable source. Great idea!
There's a lot of countries I have trouble finding good resources for - thanks, Merlin!
I could add some data on Latvia...
A minor question - if I add monetary aggregates (M0-M3) statistics by year, should I create a separate table, or add rows to existing statistics?
Hmmm... as long as the data is sourced I don't particularly care. Whatever looks better is okay - four rows are fine, make a separate table if it's a larger data set or over a longer period. Your help is welcome!
Okay, I'm basically finished with the countries. More additions are of course unavoidable - and heartily welcome! (I'm looking specifically at those who made some promises in this thread. :) )
Thanks to all for the words of support!
Absolutely right. I just forgot about this.
Since we’re here, would it be right to crate a whole new table containing data purely from the Albanian Statistical Institute, instead of filling in the blanks in the existing table? So people will not get confused about inflation from a year being from, say, the IMF and for the next year being form the Albanian INSTAT (source credibility also plays a role here). What do you think?
If the table is not too large, you could keep the numbers together on different lines, with proper sourcing. But in general, yes, it's better to keep them separate.
This is an excellent idea! Don't know if I can add anything useful but I'll take a look and see :)
Finally I’ve managed to throw the data in. Please take a look at the Albania article and let me know what you’d like me to change.
"Finally I’ve managed to throw the data in. Please take a look at the Albania article and let me know what you’d like me to change."
Do you have the specific links from where you pulled the data?
I do, but I had to put the table together from 4 different tables per site. I’d need some 10 link to provide all sources. But if you think that would be fine, I can source all the table. Let me know.
Can you just send them to me? I can put them together and make nice reference tags (and migrate them to the new wiki as well).
Peter, how did the general introductory texts for the various countries come together? Something you wrote, or was it taken from someplace?
Check the reference. The introductions for countries came, of all places, from the CIA Factbook. It is
While one can argue with it in some places, the summaries are pretty solid overall, with a strong focus on the political situation and some economics as well. Of course, nothing prevents people from rewriting them and make up for any defects of the original source.
To me personally they are off-puting. Take a look at the introduction for Serbia. 2/3rds of it are about something called "MILOSEVIC". Milošević was a person, not an acronmy, he does not need to be put in all-caps.
That is sadly a part of the original resource, capitalisation of key names. I have fixed as much; do you have an idea how to shorten down the introduction without concentrating too much on one person? (Rewriting would be of course better, but I lack resources on Serbia.)
I couldn't help to notice that Serbia's summary was rewritten, and it looks much better now! If it was you, thanks!
In related news, there is now also a stub to collect information for former Yugoslavia. More resources are welcome!