Global Economy - Chart Porn

I kept hearing that the shipping port was out of commission and was wondering what exactly that meant. Here it is. (via Washington Post print edition)

Damage zone and location of aftershocks :

Faultlines, cities, population density, shaking:

Annotated map:

Zoomable satellite map of Port-au-Prince from 10:30 Wednesday:

NYT side-by-side before and after satellite pictures:

Map of logistical challenges hampering relief efforts:

Earthquake primer with details on Haiti’s plates:

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Freedom Still in Decline

In: Global Economy Politics Source: Economist

12 Jan 2010

Based on Freedom House’s 2010 survey.

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Major Trends and Events 1750-2100

In: Culture Global Economy History Politics Reference Science

8 Jan 2010

Would make a good poster. Some of the predictions are questionable, of course. (via)

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The Economist Big Mac Index

In: Food Global Economy Source: Economist US Economy

6 Jan 2010

THE Big Mac index is based on the theory of purchasing-power parity (PPP)-exchange rates should equalise the price of a basket of goods in different countries. The exchange rate that leaves a Big Mac costing the same in dollars everywhere is our fair-value benchmark. So our light-hearted index shows which countries the foreign-exchange market has blessed with a cheap currency, and which has it burdened with a dear one.

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Global Housing Prices

In: Global Economy Housing Source: Economist US Economy

5 Jan 2010

Interactive Chart. Select your indicator, countries, and time period.

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Expiring Patents

In: Global Economy Science Source: Economist

5 Jan 2010

A RECORD number of drug patents will expire over the next few years, which should heighten competition from generic drugs and force down prices. In 2009, $26 billion of sales were at risk from patent expiries. This will nearly double in 2011 according to EvaluatePharma, a consultancy. The price of any given drug falls by more than 85% within a year of a patent expiring in markets like America. About 13% of global drug sales are at risk from generic competition over the next two years.

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China vs Japan

In: Emerging Markets Global Economy Source: Economist

5 Jan 2010

NEXT year China will overtake Japan to become the world’s second-largest economy. Its rapid ascent has led some to question whether China will follow in Japan’s footsteps, with the bursting of a massive bubble followed by years of decline. But China is still far poorer than Japan was at its peak, and thus has more room to improve productivity.