Data Talks

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Why do Chinese households start saving at just $8 a day, when in the US that threshold is closer to $60? And what would it take for China's 1.4 billion people to spend more?

In this episode of Data Talks, we're joined by Dr. Bert Hofman, a leading expert on East Asia who spent decades at the World Bank and lived and worked in China, Indonesia, the Philippines, and Singapore. Bert first arrived in Beijing in 1992, when China's income was around $1,000 per person and the city streets went dark at night to save energy. He has followed the country's transformation ever since.

In this conversation, we explore:

• How reform, WTO entry, and investment in education and technology turned China into a manufacturing superpower
• Why Chinese households save around 35% of their income, and why companies keep their profits rather than paying them out
• The role of housing, the property slump, a thin safety net, and culture in keeping savings high
• Realistic policy paths to boost consumption, from healthcare and education to faster net-zero investment
• Why China's consumer market will keep growing through 2035–2040, and what demographics mean beyond that
• The BYD and Xiaomi story: how China's manufacturing ecosystem gets a car from idea to road in about 18 months
• What it all means for Europe, and why Bert's favorite number is "one"

Whether you run a business with exposure to China or simply want to understand one of the forces shaping the global economy, this is a conversation full of data, history, and perspective.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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From Algebra to Architecture, with Jim Ellis

In this episode of Data Talks, we sit down with Jim Ellis, math teacher at the American International School of Vienna and author of "Educators as Designers," to explore how his background in architecture reshaped his approach to teaching math. Jim walks us through the parallels between architectural design and effective data-informed instruction, and how that lens has shaped a career built around curiosity and critical thinking.

We dig into the World Insights Challenge, the global math competition Jim co-leads with Kat Petra from the International School of Amsterdam, where students from around the world use real data to explore questions tied to the SDGs, building original visualizations that matter to their own communities.

Jim also opens up about AI's growing role in education: its potential to identify learning needs like dyslexia and dyscalculia far faster than humans can, and the coming shift away from homework toward classrooms as spaces for live, creative learning. He paints a picture of what math class could look like for the next generation, one where students lead their own discovery rather than simply absorb instruction.

We close things out, as always, with Jim's favorite number: 360, and the surprisingly rich history behind it.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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Payments Are About People: Innovation from the Digital South

What does a journalist turned payments executive see that others miss? In this episode, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Estelita Haas, Head of Market Intelligence and Product Marketing at Ebanx, a fast-growing Brazilian fintech unicorn now operating in 25+ countries across Latin America, Africa, and Asia.

Estelita shares how her background reporting from Brazil's overlooked regions shaped her conviction that the most important stories, and the most important markets, are the ones nobody is paying attention to. That same instinct drives Ebanx's focus on the "Digital South": hundreds of millions of mobile-first, young, middle-class consumers who are transacting online for the first time and can't be reached with a card-first checkout.

In this conversation, you'll hear about the innovation happening right now in emerging market payments, from Brazil's Pix reaching 95% adult adoption in under five years, to India's UPI embedding inside Rupay cards, to M-Pesa in Kenya issuing virtual cards for online purchases. Estelita argues that rather than competing, these payment methods are feeding each other and building a larger, more inclusive ecosystem.

Key themes: fintech innovation, emerging markets, financial inclusion, digital payments, the Global South, consumer behaviour, SaaS, gaming, social commerce.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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Can data predict the next big consumer trend?

In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Yarden Horwitz, Co-Founder of Spate, about the science of spotting trends before they go mainstream.

Drawing on her experience at Google and building one of the fastest-growing trend intelligence platforms, Yarden explains how brands can use search, social, and behavioral data to understand what consumers want next. From beauty and wellness trends to generational shifts and artificial intelligence, this conversation explores how data reveals emerging opportunities long before they appear in the headlines.

Yarden shares lessons from building a startup through Y Combinator, discusses why trends like press-on nails and longevity treatments have endured, and explains why the future of AI is not about replacing humans—but helping them tell better stories with data.

A fascinating discussion for anyone interested in consumer behavior, innovation, marketing, and the future of insights.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with former IFC CEO and World Bank leader Philippe Le Houérou for a deeply personal and wide-ranging conversation on data, development, ideology, and global change.

From witnessing revolution and violence as a teenager in Ethiopia to reshaping the IFC through evidence-based strategy and measurable development impact, Philippe reflects on the experiences that shaped his belief that “numbers are the X-ray to many problems.” Together, they explore why data matters, how evidence cuts through ideology, and why better diagnosis leads to better decisions in economics, policy, and development. 

The conversation also dives into the transformation of the IFC under the “IFC 3.0” strategy, the rise of private sector-led development, the evolution of global poverty reduction, and the growing importance of data systems in emerging economies. Philippe shares candid insights into leadership, institutional reform, and why development finance must evolve for a changing world. 

The episode closes with an unexpected reflection on Philippe’s favourite number: zero. Describing it as one of humanity’s greatest intellectual breakthroughs, he explores the “genius of zero” — where mathematics, philosophy, and human progress meet.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Ram Raghavan, senior leader at Colgate-Palmolive, about what it takes to build a globally trusted brand with purpose at its core.

With nearly three decades at Colgate, Ram shares his journey from grassroots sales in India to leading global strategy, offering insights into consumer behavior, brand building, and the power of culture in sustaining long-term success.

The conversation explores how Colgate balances global scale with local relevance, why understanding the “why” behind data is critical, and how shifting consumer trends, from preventative health to digital self-expression, are shaping the future of oral care.

At its heart, this episode is about one simple mission: putting more smiles on people’s faces.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler sits down with Indermit Gill, Chief Economist of the World Bank, for a wide-ranging conversation on the forces reshaping the global economy.

From the middle-income trap and India’s growth potential to Europe’s economic model, oil shocks, trade barriers, and the promise of AI, Indermit brings sharp insight to one of the biggest questions of our time: what will define the next era of global development?

Together, they explore why some countries rise while others stall, what today’s global crises mean for growth and inflation, and how better data and new technologies could transform the future of public services in developing economies.

At a moment of deep uncertainty, this episode offers a timely and thought-provoking look at the world economy at a turning point.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, World Data Lab CEO Wolfgang Fengler speaks with co-founder and global middle class expert Homi Kharas about new research that challenges one of the most widely discussed narratives in economics today.

Featured prominently in The Economist, World Data Lab’s latest analysis examines inequality through the lens of consumption rather than wealth. By comparing how much the bottom 50% of the global population consumes relative to the top 10%, the data reveals a surprising trend: global inequality in consumption is improving, largely driven by rapid economic growth in countries such as India, China, Indonesia, and across Southeast Asia.

Together, Wolfgang and Homi explore:

• Why consumption inequality may be a more meaningful measure of real living standards than wealth inequality
• How global economic growth is lifting billions of people out of extreme poverty
• Why the rise of emerging economies is reshaping the global distribution of prosperity
• The role of government policies, taxation, and public services in influencing inequality within countries
• And why, despite ongoing global uncertainty, the long-term trajectory for human welfare may be more positive than many assume.

The conversation offers a data-driven perspective on one of the defining debates of our time — and highlights how new global datasets can help policymakers, businesses, and researchers better understand the real progress happening across the world economy.

🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com
Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

Join Data Talks

Building Digital Africa with Bitange Ndemo

In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang Fengler speaks with Professor Bitange Ndemo, Kenya’s Ambassador to Belgium and the European Union, former Permanent Secretary for Information and Communication, and one of the architects of Kenya’s digital transformation.

Widely regarded as a driving force behind the modernization of Kenya’s ICT sector, Prof. Ndemo oversaw landmark reforms including the installation of undersea submarine cables, the liberalization of telecom markets, the reduction of mobile termination rates, the launch of Kenya Open Data, and the rise of innovation hubs such as iHub and mLab. These reforms helped position Kenya as a continental leader in digital innovation.

Now serving in diplomacy while continuing his academic and research work in entrepreneurship and ICT-driven development, Prof. Ndemo reflects on the policy decisions that reshaped a nation, and what Africa must do next.

The conversation explores:

• How infrastructure unlocked Africa’s digital economy
• The political economy of reform and regulation
• Why Africa can leapfrog in AI and emerging technologies
• The power of youth, innovation, and open data
• And what “building digital Africa” truly means in the next decade

A thoughtful discussion on leadership, policy, technology, and Africa’s place in the global digital future.

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Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.

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In this episode of Data Talks, Wolfgang speaks with Kirti Singh, Chief Insights Officer at Procter & Gamble, about what it truly means to be consumer-first in a company that serves more than 5.5 billion people worldwide.

Kirti reflects on her 30+ year global career spanning India, China and the United States, and how her very first day at P&G, spent inside a consumer’s home, shaped her philosophy on leadership and growth.

The conversation explores:

• How P&G drives market growth, not just market share
• The rise of emerging markets and generational change
• Why “Data Is Human” and what that means in the age of AI
• How Human + AI is reshaping the analytics profession

A powerful discussion on insight, global leadership and the future of consumer-driven strategy.

🔗 Learn more at worlddatalab.com
Data Talks is produced by World Data Lab, bringing global data to life through insights, conversations, and stories that matter.