Sunday, June 30, 2013

Culling the June Harper's Index

The June issue of Harper's has some interesting stats in its "Harper's Index" that I thought I'd share: 
  • Percentage change in the past twenty-five years in the Consumer Price Index: +41
  • In the price of beer: +40
  • Percentage of U.S. college graduates who are women: 51.1  [This seems low to me.]
  • Of Fortune 500 CEOs who are: 4.2
  • Estimated amount by which federal tax revenue will increase if the Defense of Marriage Act is overturned: $35,000,000
  • Percentage change since 1970 in the portion of U.S. children growing up in single-parent households: +133
  • Amount awarded in March to a paraplegic man trapped for thirty minutes in Disneyland's "It's a Small World" ride: $8,000  [He should have sued for a larger amount. I've been on that ride.]
  • Portion of U.S. river miles capable of supporting "healthy biological communities" according to the EPA: 1/5
  • Percentage of personal income the average American making more than $200,000 a year gives to charity: 4.2
  • Percentage the average American making between $50,000 and $100,000 a year gives: 6  [This contrast does not surprise me.]
  • Portion of religious Americans who believe in reincarnation: 1/4
  • Portion of nonreligious American who do: 1/4

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