Taste the Rainbow

This is a beautiful graph representing population growth in cities over time. Notice how the cities are arranged by their geographical location so that you get a sense of the migration of populations.

Trade surplus

A very interesting data visualization.   From now on graphs = data visualizations.

A great way to visualize the market.

This includes market capitalization as well as changes.  I like the grouping by industry sector.  It helps you see how well different sectors are doing relative to other sectors.

http://www.smartmoney.com/map-of-the-market/

Radar Graph

This is a graph style I've never scene before. This graph that illustrates the market value of the major banks, then and now. It reminds me of melting ice caps. I don't understand the Increasing/Decreasing percentage decline.

This graph feels insane. There is a tremendous amount going on that I can't understand. Nor do I want to understand, really. Intuitively I don't trust a graph like this. The text isn't clear. The Y-Axis is spread logarithmically. It feels like the conclusion has been drawn, and then the graph has been made to fit the conclusion. I can't speak intelligently about the subject matter and why they are doing what they are doing. Suzy? Jordan? Whats the deal with the Y-Axis?

Who you talking to!

Pelosi and the New York Times have much different agendas and audiences. The New York Times theoretically wants to elucidate and explain to their educated readership. Pelosi wants to deliver a clear message across all demographics. By giving the graph line a downward rather than upward trajectory her graph sends home the message that things are getting much worse. The other recession lines are just window dressing. They serve to accentuate the current downward trajectory rather than provide larger nuanced context for the user as the Times' graph is trying to accomplish. Both sources know their audience.

Whats more, by expanding the time on the Y-Axis well past the end of each previous recession (1 and 2 year lengths respectively) Pelosi compresses the angle of the downward trajectory, further accentuating the detiorating job market.

Graph A Re-revisited

Suzie poses the question of whether or not this graphic is more meaningful with only recent data being plotted. But I find this graphic painting a quite clear picture: things are worse now and on a worse trajectory than in other recessions. But what is unclear is what the Y-axis truly represents. The data show absolute values (#s of jobs lost) but relative to a peak value. Without the viewer knowing (asking or being told [in defense of the Speaker maybe this is explained overtly elsewhere]) do we know what this peak is, how its value was is derived- what role does it play in framing the viewer's perspective.

Similarly, in making comparisons between different recessions(economic states) we need to ask whether adjusting for time-- (or perhaps even job-value as it contributes to the GDP. Maybe a significant percentage of jobs lost now, are fundamentally different than in recessions-past?) --would present a more accurate, valid, and as Suzie poses - better understanding of this particularly focused view of the world. 

Graph A Revisited

Here is another presentation of the same employment statistics. It uses the same data set but was put together by Pelosi's Office of the Speaker. (Click image for Big)



Notice the differences: the change in the direction of the Y axis, lengthening the X-Axis, and the reduction of lines. One could argue that this clarifies the information by representing growth as positive and job loss as negative, and reducing the noise to the only those comparisons of relevant to the audience.

Someone trying to emphasize a different point or promote a different message might have made different choices in how they displayed the data.

Is understanding lost or gained by only including the most contemporary recessions?

Graph A

Here is a line graph with non-linear time lines. The current time line is highlighted by an additional color. The light grid in the background helps the user quickly locate the context.

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics

The Bureau of Labor Statistics provides data in text files. How often do they publish?