Knowledge Diffusion via Wikipedia

Fabian Braesemann and Fabian Stephany

The Knowledge Economy is Growing,

though scientific assessments are lacking behind

Wikipedia is a Knowledge Database

and might help us to measure knowledge effectively

Duolingo (15mn)

Coursera (17mn)

Wikipedia (16 bn)

  * In brackets: average page views per month 2017 (trafficestimate.com / Wikimedia Traffic Analysis)

Wikipedia Usage

on a broad level is already a promising start

Wikipedia Domain Specific Edits

can be associated to macro-level indicators of knowledge

y = \frac{\text{Edits in Computer Science per US-State}}{\text{Edits in American Football per US-State} }
y=Edits in Computer Science per US-StateEdits in American Football per US-Statey = \frac{\text{Edits in Computer Science per US-State}}{\text{Edits in American Football per US-State} }
Variables Model 1 Model 2
Intercept -1.289 (0.92) -0.694 (0.956)
Urban Pop 0.156 (0.452) -0.137 (0.471) 
GDP per Capita -0.013 (0.006)* -0.012 (0.005)*
Internet Users 3.293 (1.259)* 2.708 (1.279)*
Adv. Degree 5.809 (2.883)*
Science&Edu Jobs 16.51 (6.555)*

Wikipedia Domain Specific Edits

allow an even more granular measurement of knowledge

Wikiedu - SIS Florence 2017

By fundf

Wikiedu - SIS Florence 2017

  • 654