#SOTD 80: Contrast with the right norms (Data on global fertility rates)
![SOTD80](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/SOTD80-770x400.jpg)
#SOTD 80: Contrast with the right norms (Data on global fertility rates)
Whenever you have a surprising finding, you have the seed of a story. And if there are several surprising findings, then boy, do we have ourselves a compelling narrative!
For instance, take this case study. For decades, the received wisdom on fertility was:
- Richer countries have low/lowering fertility. This is driven by several factors: healthcare facilities improve, families become nuclear reducing caregiver options, busy careers parents don’t want too many kids etc.
- Also, as more women enter the workforce, fertility rates drop
Both of these are being upturned now, with some fascinating new evidence. These have been shared by Matthias Doepke a Faculty of Economics at Northwestern University, Illinois in a recent tweet thread.
Here’s the first surprising finding:
![](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-153.png)
Finding #2:
![](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-154.png)
What are the factors leading to higher fertility among richer nations with more working women?
One of them is better government support for early childcare and preschool:
![](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-155.png)
And another reason: (Ahem) Men providing more support in housework:
![](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-156.png)
Here are some simple data storytelling principles used in the tweet thread:
- Clear messages on the top of each chart/s
- Finding the right norm – going back in time to 1980 to make the relevant comparison (longer-term perspectives can be fascinating)
- Using simple charts (and consistent scales, marking etc.) to drive clarity
Here’s the full paper from which these findings have been shared.
#SOTD 80
![](https://www.storyrules.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/image-157.png)