Chart Porn » Commentary http://chartporn.org charts you just gotta love Wed, 23 May 2012 17:59:57 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Households Like You http://chartporn.org/2011/06/20/households-like-you/ http://chartporn.org/2011/06/20/households-like-you/#comments Mon, 20 Jun 2011 19:43:00 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2011/06/20/households-like-you/ ]]> Select your household type (married, kids, rooomies, etc) and view some summary statistics from the American Community Survey.

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2011/06/20/households-like-you/feed/ 2 How Stupid is it to Buy a Diamond? http://chartporn.org/2010/10/29/how-stupid-is-it-to-buy-a-diamond/ http://chartporn.org/2010/10/29/how-stupid-is-it-to-buy-a-diamond/#comments Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:58:43 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2010/10/29/how-stupid-is-it-to-buy-a-diamond/ ]]> This classic Atlantic article explains in detail how the USA was manipulated into thinking diamond rings are a classy expression of your love – when in fact they are just a ripoff. While reading it I couldn’t help but see multiple parallels to what happened to the housing market and the “american dream”.

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Here is a chart of diamond prices, 1960-2010:

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2010/10/29/how-stupid-is-it-to-buy-a-diamond/feed/ 3 Beware of Greeks Bearing Bonds http://chartporn.org/2010/09/13/beware-of-greeks-bearing-bonds/ http://chartporn.org/2010/09/13/beware-of-greeks-bearing-bonds/#comments Mon, 13 Sep 2010 18:57:17 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2010/09/13/beware-of-greeks-bearing-bonds/ ]]> I rarely post articles that are not graphics related, but Michael Lewis qualifies for the occasional exception by offering remarkable insights into financial and economic issues. Read this article if you want to understand the Greek crisis in a very accessible and hilarious way.

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2010/09/13/beware-of-greeks-bearing-bonds/feed/ 1 The 6 Most Statistically Full of Shit Professions http://chartporn.org/2010/02/26/the-6-most-statistically-full-of-shit-professions/ http://chartporn.org/2010/02/26/the-6-most-statistically-full-of-shit-professions/#comments Fri, 26 Feb 2010 19:46:12 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2010/02/26/the-6-most-statistically-full-of-shit-professions/ ]]> It’s from Cracked magazine, so not entirely accurate – still an entertaining read, though.

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2010/02/26/the-6-most-statistically-full-of-shit-professions/feed/ 0 Wall Street Grifters http://chartporn.org/2010/02/19/wall-street-grifters/ http://chartporn.org/2010/02/19/wall-street-grifters/#comments Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:45:10 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2010/02/19/wall-street-grifters/ ]]> I don’t post many editorials, but I love Matt Taibbi’s gonzo journalism style and his insights about cracks in the financial system.

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2010/02/19/wall-street-grifters/feed/ 0 Blame the Smart People? http://chartporn.org/2009/10/18/blame-the-smart-people/ http://chartporn.org/2009/10/18/blame-the-smart-people/#comments Sun, 18 Oct 2009 20:01:20 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/10/18/blame-the-smart-people/ ]]> A WSJ op-ed that presents a convincing argument that we can’t blame stupid people for the financial crisis (though they certainly helped).

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/10/18/blame-the-smart-people/feed/ 0 Economic Theories Explained with Stick Figures http://chartporn.org/2009/10/02/economic-theories-explained-with-stick-figures/ http://chartporn.org/2009/10/02/economic-theories-explained-with-stick-figures/#comments Fri, 02 Oct 2009 16:35:40 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/10/02/economic-theories-explained-with-stick-figures/ ]]> econ

]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/10/02/economic-theories-explained-with-stick-figures/feed/ 1 Terrorism Worry Tree http://chartporn.org/2009/09/15/terrorism-worry-tree/ http://chartporn.org/2009/09/15/terrorism-worry-tree/#comments Tue, 15 Sep 2009 21:51:01 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/09/15/terrorism-worry-tree/ ]]> Why have there been no more 9/11′s? Click on each of the theories to bring up the relevant essay, and make up your own mind.

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/09/15/terrorism-worry-tree/feed/ 0 Poor Design as Scare Tactic? http://chartporn.org/2009/07/23/poor-design-as-scare-tactic/ http://chartporn.org/2009/07/23/poor-design-as-scare-tactic/#comments Thu, 23 Jul 2009 15:30:33 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/07/23/poor-design-as-scare-tactic/ ]]> The Good blog discusses the Republican/Democratic scuffle about the below graphic and health care reform issues. (note: clicking on the below brings up a larger version on another blog).

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Here is a better designed graphic (with some chart junk of it’s own, admittedly) from Good showing problems with the existing heath care system:

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/07/23/poor-design-as-scare-tactic/feed/ 0 Bubble, Bubble, Economic Trouble… http://chartporn.org/2009/04/08/bubble-bubble-economic-trouble/ http://chartporn.org/2009/04/08/bubble-bubble-economic-trouble/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 16:04:34 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/04/08/bubble-bubble-economic-trouble/ ]]> Nice WSJ article on bubbles. (via Ritholtz)

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/04/08/bubble-bubble-economic-trouble/feed/ 0 What Will It Take to Stabilize the Banks? http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/what-will-it-take-to-stabilize-the-banks/ http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/what-will-it-take-to-stabilize-the-banks/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:59:26 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/what-will-it-take-to-stabilize-the-banks/ ]]> A decent article by Martin Baily and Douglas Elliot on how big the crisis is – and comparisons of different estimates of the remaining problem:

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/what-will-it-take-to-stabilize-the-banks/feed/ 0 Central Bank Salaries http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/central-bank-salaries/ http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/central-bank-salaries/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:25:11 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/central-bank-salaries/ ]]> An amusing list of central bank salaries. (Bernanke’s underpaid)

Of course, they don’t mention their incomes before or after service.

]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/central-bank-salaries/feed/ 0 G-20 Stimulus Spending http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/g-20-stimulus-spending/ http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/g-20-stimulus-spending/#comments Mon, 30 Mar 2009 16:08:59 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/g-20-stimulus-spending/ ]]> Related Washington Post article.

G20 Stimulus

Of course, not being in terms of GDP, that isn’t the best perspective.

Here’s the original data from Brookings:

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And here’s a nice interactive heatmap of the plans (roll-over for country details):

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]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/03/30/g-20-stimulus-spending/feed/ 0 Read These Now http://chartporn.org/2009/03/27/read-these-now/ http://chartporn.org/2009/03/27/read-these-now/#comments Fri, 27 Mar 2009 20:31:42 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/03/27/read-these-now/ ]]> socialism-rich It’s been a slow week graphic-wise, but I came across two fantastic articles on the crisis –  can’t recommend them enough:

Matt Taibbi (Hunter S Thompson successor):
The Big Takeover

Simon Johnson (former IMF Chief Economist): 
The Quiet Coup

]]> http://chartporn.org/2009/03/27/read-these-now/feed/ 0 Frozen Assets: Michael Lewis on Iceland http://chartporn.org/2009/03/09/frozen-assets-michael-lewis-on-iceland/ http://chartporn.org/2009/03/09/frozen-assets-michael-lewis-on-iceland/#comments Mon, 09 Mar 2009 20:16:50 +0000 Dustin http://chartporn.org/2009/03/09/frozen-assets-michael-lewis-on-iceland/ ]]> I know this is a chart blog, but I love Michael Lewis’ writing. Here’s a great article on how Iceland got in trouble.

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Link: Lewis’s Dec 2008 article on the demise of Wall Street.

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