Explorative Data Analysis Based on Self-organizing Maps and Automatic Map Analysis

Abstract

The self-organizing m ap (SOM) is a method that represents statistical data sets in an ordered fashion, as a natural groundwork on which t h e distributions of the individual indicators in the set can be displayed and analyzed. As a case study that instructs how to use the SOM to compare states of economic systems, the standard of living of different countries is analyzed using the SO M . B a s e d o n a g r eat number (39) of welfare indicators the SOM illustrates rather re ned relationships between the c o u n tries two-dimensionally. This method is directly applicable to the nancial grading o f c o m panies, too.