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“Correlation versus causation in a single graph”

24May2013

47D7zGq

Via @dgardner, @clicjf.

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Last reply was May 28, 2013
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  1. @josh_weinberg
    View May 24, 2013

    Thank you google chrome RT @cblatts “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/uQvfvwXytP

    sarahknoesen retweeted this
  2. @drunkeynesian
    View May 24, 2013

    Internet Explorer kills! RT @cblatts: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/n8OBLP7FJ3

    RodrigoSaraceno retweeted thismauriciomandel retweeted thisandreglad retweeted this
  3. @sergioguerra1
    View May 24, 2013

    @cblatts In the 90’s we called that an spurious relation…

  4. @dsquareddigest
    View May 24, 2013

    @cblatts that’s not really showing correlation though – it’s pretty obviously spurious regression

  5. @isthmusstrait
    View May 24, 2013

    research humor. RT @cblatts: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/NiegafH9sR

  6. @AnnieLowrey
    View May 24, 2013

    Don’t know what @cblatts is talking about: I see a strong, causal relationship here. http://t.co/MuAi83e75a

    micahbackus retweeted thisr_wolfcastle retweeted thisrobprather retweeted this
  7. @shermandorn
    View May 24, 2013

    With http://t.co/XigmQrsWjK I take back EVERYTHING I said in http://t.co/sswF1TWjfm — we’re beating back Microsoft’s deadly scourge.

  8. @FeeOnlyIndy
    View May 24, 2013

    THE BEST: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/I9HSSF0USY

  9. @bisina
    View May 24, 2013

    correlation vs. causation http://t.co/88DLOUOg0g

    stochazesthai retweeted thisLBaggiani retweeted thisBeaMagistro retweeted thisfiorettimichele retweeted thisdistributedlife retweeted this
  10. @dvegadtime
    View May 24, 2013

    AMAZING! This is probably a must-retweet! Thanks @bisina!
    RT @bisina: correlation vs. causation http://t.co/d9Y3So6Ayq

    RockZen retweeted this
  11. @TonyBontheMIC
    View May 24, 2013

    FTW. “@cblatts: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/0UyCioV7xG”

  12. @Eric_GERVET
    View May 24, 2013

    Correlation versus causation in a single graph :-). http://t.co/7DGmd8oelG from @cblatts

  13. @Patrick_Sharma
    View May 24, 2013

    @lendegroot You mean something like this? :) http://t.co/tFPjN8MrVN

  14. @PierreHeistein
    View May 24, 2013

    This is excellent! “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/aLMYVtlaqP

  15. @batbatari
    View May 24, 2013

    Correlation vs. causation. http://t.co/X992lg8aQm

  16. @lxforever
    View May 24, 2013

    “@AnnieLowrey: Don’t know what @cblatts is talking about: I see a strong, causal relationship here. http://t.co/bIoJ9wU0FH” IE vs murders

  17. @ryanwcross
    View May 24, 2013

    RT @cblatts “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/pZmmJvShXG

  18. @KennethElpus
    View May 24, 2013

    Love this on many levels: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/zMOMAeby6H

  19. @awoo_
    View May 24, 2013

    Brilliant: Correlation vs. causation in a single graph. via @jenwoolard http://t.co/MM2suAfg7S

  20. @josephcplam
    View May 25, 2013

    Correlation versus causation in a single graph http://t.co/LZSdJJsulH

  21. @adelaigue
    View May 25, 2013

    I knew it! “@cblatts: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/WH4tdEwTCL”

  22. @nickfraser
    View May 25, 2013

    ““Correlation versus causation in a single graph”” http://t.co/EVpdvM8Uw5

  23. @EricFrRe
    View May 25, 2013

    Pourquoi il ne faut pas utiliser IE :-)) RT @obouba: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/RkejpC3vW2

  24. @pixeltoo
    View May 25, 2013

    RT @squintar: Très joli RT @adelaigue: I knew it! “@cblatts: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/8y5F8fwo5Z”

  25. @conjugateprior
    View May 25, 2013

    @cblatts @WilHMoo But just add levels of environment lead to this graph and watch it explain both #CommonCause #AmIRite

  26. @SPagliari
    View May 25, 2013

    Correlation versus causation in a single graph” (via @cblatts) http://t.co/EyLzXdN9H5

    jrhopkin retweeted thisElka72 retweeted this
  27. @Elka72
    View May 25, 2013

    @cmcgovern Correlation vs causation – see this? :-) http://t.co/3Z396ENKVu

  28. @jm_desp
    View May 25, 2013

    @cblatts same curve with rapes, but strong suspicions internet porn is the causation ;-)

  29. @ScottLimbrick
    View May 25, 2013

    Ever been caught between correlation and causation? Great graph by @cblatts clears things up http://t.co/WohB6MdhWi

  30. @mgrapetti
    View May 25, 2013

    Genial para dar clases “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/MtxlKvTL2N

    MartinTrombetta retweeted this
  31. @MariusStranda
    View May 25, 2013

    Viktig å vite… “@went1955: This is great: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/5jgopAXuwY (via @viewfromthecave)”

  32. @HamiltonKyleL
    View May 25, 2013

    RT @viewfromthecave: This is great “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” via @cblatts http://t.co/Yk4TxpnSHW

  33. @lksriv
    View May 25, 2013

    Best of use of data viz I’ve seen in a while. RT @cblatts “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/05KvLrJAMz

  34. @viewfromthecave
    View May 25, 2013

    RT @unickf: dunno @viewfromthecave – i see this and think “another great reason not to be using internet explorer” http://t.co/4gPMBR4v58

  35. @AnaTeredelT
    View May 25, 2013

    jajajjajaj // “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/AWkKBCYYZy

  36. @tedsvo
    View May 25, 2013

    “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” via @cblatts http://t.co/GikTOnyrdL

  37. “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” | tpuofuosutfud
    View May 25, 2013

    […] http://chrisblattman.com/2013/05/24/correlation-versus-causation-in-a-single-graph/ […]

  38. @PPmerino
    View May 25, 2013

    “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/ldVZp4YIPT

    Gurkman retweeted thisRivasWalker retweeted this
  39. @Teh_Flow
    View May 25, 2013

    “@PPmerino: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/A9261noOsY” lol

  40. @peter_c_william
    View May 25, 2013

    An unexpected benefit of lower Internet Explorer usage. http://t.co/VJFS9Eo6xP

  41. @carlosmanfer
    View May 25, 2013

    “@Teh_Flow: “@PPmerino: “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/lji6O4FKMq” lol” jajaja

  42. @WilHMoo
    View May 26, 2013

    @conjugateprior @cblatts I was slow to find the graph. Well played! Had I been more quick, the quip is: And I thought it was Roe v Wade…

  43. @bjoern_buss
    View May 26, 2013

    @cblatts But´s it litttle tricky: there´s no high #correlation & fallacy possible through your problematic graph scaling.

  44. Ryan Robles
    View May 26, 2013

    Firefox is far less murderous.

  45. @robiNLITA
    View May 26, 2013

    RT @bill_easterly: Maybe this will convince you that correlation is not causation http://t.co/Y4cnMaHs3V

    brianrahmer retweeted thisDaves_son retweeted this
  46. @finikiotis
    View May 26, 2013

    This. “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/tMX9dRJ8RA via @cblatts h/t @dgardner

  47. @PaulDeane3
    View May 26, 2013

    Not to miss:
    http://t.co/8piCgSemQN
    Or, why people switching from the IE browser does not explain reductions in the murder rate!

  48. @Sarahgoat
    View May 26, 2013

    Correlation and causation; Internet Explorer and the murder rate. http://t.co/0we1Y8aONy

  49. @JHWeissmann
    View May 26, 2013

    I dunno man. I can imagine the link. rt @UdadisiSuperior “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/DhWpcCXJHX …

    UdadisiSuperior retweeted this
  50. @minbok
    View May 26, 2013

    Mass-murderer, Microsoft! “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/w1VJe1NjZo

  51. TTT
    View May 26, 2013

    Maybe there is a tiny bit of causation….

    If Chrome and Firefox cause Internet Porn to load up faster than Explorer did, perhaps that causes the need for the male brain to see porn to be satiated sooner, and pushes the psychology that leads to murder just beneath the surface.

  52. Will
    View May 26, 2013

    So Oakland, CA, is apparently a hotbed of Internet Explorer usage.

  53. Steve S.
    View May 26, 2013

    I’m going with Causation. As screwed up and demanding as IE – and Microsoft in general – has been over the years, I could well believe that thousands of users have been driven to insanity.

  54. Correlation vs Causation | Insomniac memos
    View May 26, 2013

    […] case you didn’t get it before, this graph should make the point clear. If not, please consult an […]

  55. David Govett
    View May 26, 2013

    The graph is more meaningless than you intended. One axis should be the number of murders, not the murder rate.

  56. Marty
    View May 27, 2013

    Having struggled with Microsoft’s crappy OS’s and software for 30 years, I see a strong causative relationship. :-)

  57. David Kole
    View May 27, 2013

    Try explaining that to a global warming hysteric (“scientist”). They know nothing about statistics.

  58. Phil Brown
    View May 27, 2013

    But isn’t this true of virtually every Microsoft product besides Excel?

  59. Kent Nebergall
    View May 27, 2013

    I dunno… Windows 8 makes me wanna give it the gun sometimes, especially the new IE I have to use because Chrome and Southwest Airlines do not play well with each other.

  60. Billll
    View May 27, 2013

    Billlls first law of election year rhetoric: When a pol speaks of numbers, the real story in in the percentages, and vice versa. Comparing numbers to percentages is a perfect example of this.

  61. RP Burke
    View May 27, 2013

    Wow — this is a hat trick: Not one but TWO “gee-whiz” graphs, as the great Darrell Huff defined them

  62. Lisa Hirsch
    View May 27, 2013

    If only that were actually a comparison of murder rate with IE market share. The number of murders annually isn’t the same as the murder rate, which I believe is usually described in per capita terms.

  63. Moving On With Life - CoupleDumb
    View May 27, 2013

    […]   […]

  64. Andrew
    View May 28, 2013

    But that kind of graph is misleading as there’s not even a correlation let alone causation implied, since the trend isn’t one to one like the graph implies. IE use went down near 50% where murders went down only 15%. Or is that part of the joke…

  65. Decrease in Internet Explorer usage leads to lowering of murder rate | Technologyscout
    View May 28, 2013

    […] brillant article (because it’s as short as possible, consisting simply of an illustration) of Chris Blattman […]

  66. Jenny G
    View May 28, 2013

    The question here is which way does the causation run? Is it that the decrease of IE means that people are less frustrated by their browsers and therefore less likely to be driven to murder? Is it that the decrease in murder rate means there are fewer people going to IE and searching for information about the optimal location and depth of shallow graves? Is it that the murder rate had been artificially inflated because people were murdering those MS employees responsible for IE and now that most of them are dead, customer support is worse than ever and so users are moving to other browsers? Clearly additional research is required.

  67. Jeff H
    View May 28, 2013

    Well, it seems Monsieur Gates has found a way to REALLY help world health: give up market share, save lives. Wonder if he’s a closet socialist after all?

  68. @sturbot
    View May 28, 2013

    RT @bill_easterly Maybe this will convince you that correlation is not causation http://t.co/tYIEp07mOh via @aidwatch

  69. M.W. Brown
    View May 28, 2013

    Jeff H.
    …”after all?”
    Were laboring under the impression that Bill Gates was a socialist?

  70. @tiefenb
    View May 28, 2013

    RT @codepo8: Internet Explorer usage vs. Murder Rate in the US: http://t.co/7uxMX3wlxG

    DebugKing retweeted this
  71. @EverydayKanban
    View May 28, 2013

    This made me chuckle: http://t.co/ASZro0A4B7

    dwester42a retweeted this
  72. @jrhernandez84
    View May 28, 2013

    RT @smalyshev: The science is settled: http://t.co/G76BMa3pqU

    mcloide retweeted this
  73. @SeanTrende
    View May 28, 2013

    We often pay lip service to “correlation does not equal causation,” but it really doesn’t. http://t.co/H6PJMPOLn8

    _DannyHolland retweeted thisdeloureiro retweeted this
  74. @AlexParkerDC
    View May 28, 2013

    Holy wow, is this real? http://t.co/8tdY2DQG6A

  75. @Girondo
    View May 28, 2013

    RT @agaviriau: “Correlación versus causalidad en una gráfica”: http://t.co/C1NlR0zTDe

  76. @rich_mallett
    View May 28, 2013

    @cblatts See also: stop global warming by becoming a pirate http://t.co/pucyXHEKPd

  77. @catalane
    View May 28, 2013

    “Correlation versus causation in a single graph” http://t.co/gner1zuytn // JAAAAA

  78. Correlation : Causality :: IE Market Share : Murder Rate » Notes from the Quant of Asia
    View June 1, 2013

    […] you Chris Blattman for this picture worth a thousand words. I run lots of correlation analyses, and hope never to fall […]

  79. Correlation isn't Causation: Will Eating at McDonald's Give you Acne?
    View June 12, 2016

    […] Read another opinion […]

  80. Correlation isn’t Causation: Will Eating at McDonald’s Give you Acne?
    View July 11, 2018

    […] Read another opinion […]

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Chris Blattman

I'm a Professor in the Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago. I use field work and statistics to study poverty, political engagement, the causes and consequences of violence, and policy in developing countries. [Read more]

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