An Economy of Change
Our spinogram allows you to watch the U.S. economy change before your very eyes.
By: David Sparks | April 28, 2009 | 17:00 PM (PDT) | 
1 Comment
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To view the complete graphic as a PDF, click on the link under 'Resources' on the right-hand side of this page. (David Sparks)
This spinogram depicts U.S. gross domestic product, divided into constituent sources. Column widths are proportional to a year’s real GDP, and each sector’s contribution to GDP is reflected in box height. Color intensity varies with historical relative magnitude of a sector’s contribution to GDP. Clearly shown is the service sector’s 25-year rise to dominance, paralleling a drop in the importance of manufacturing and increasing transportation production in periods of high energy prices. Numbers in billions of dollars.
Key to abbreviations:
• Agriculture, forestry and fishing
• Construction
• Durable goods manufacturing
• Finance, insurance and real estate
• Government
• Mining
• Nondurable goods manufacturing
• Retail trade services
• Service
• Transportation and public utilities
• Wholesale trade
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Comments
What strikes me is the massive growth in the financial sector, balanced on the very small construction sector with the derivative products based on real estate development. Unless the real estate property development (not construction) structure is included in the Service category?
Written By:David Sparks
David Sparks is a doctoral candidate in political science at Duke University, where he is a fellow in the Political Institutions and Public Choice program and focuses on the application of quantitative methods to political phenomena. His infographic work has appeared in the online version of ESPN The Magazine.
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