Worst. Graph. Ever
This is amazing:
Worst defense spending graph ever? MT @AmyJaffeenergy: graphic based on @IISS_org figures http://t.co/CZ4XYL68a0 pic.twitter.com/1wvBg6YKiy
— Robert Farley (@drfarls) February 16, 2015
The point is to try to indicate that Russian military spending has increased from baseline, while EU spending has decreased. The visual effect (and a graph, of course, is intended to display data in an effective, informative manner) is to indicate that Russia is spending much, much more than the Europeans. This is accomplished through the unconventional means of putting the number “70” much higher on the graph than the number “265,” which is made even more confusing by the fact that the Y axis (which is supposed to reflect % change) is right next to the absolute number labels…