Comparing R vs. Python graphing capabilities for time series data

 I used a simple time series data set on the number of touch downs for seven different quarterbacks achieved over the years.  The x-axes of the graphs are the quarterbacks' respective age.  The y-axes are their respective cumulative number of touch downs.  

You can see the complete presentation at the link below: 

R vs. Python comparison

And, I compare the two software using different types of graphs, including:

1) Time series graph of a single variable (the number of touch downs for one single quarterback);

2) Time series graph of multiple variables (including all 7 quarterbacks); and 

3) Facet graphs when you generate a separate graph for each of the quarterbacks. 

For the first two types of graphs, the two software were pretty competitive.  R was a bit more efficient in generating legends almost automatically.  Meanwhile, constructing a legend using Python was a lot longer and manual.  But, otherwise the respective Python graphs were pretty competitive with the R ones in terms of look and feel.  And, the coding difficulty (besides the legend bit) was fairly similar. 

When it came to Facet graphs, there was no comparison.  R was far easier and better.  Python facet graph capabilities appear more structured for scatter plots and not so much for time series plots.  Doing the latter in Python was truly a miserable experience.  And, the result was so poor relative to the R facet graphs, that I don't even dare to show them here.  I show them within the presentation link above.  With superior Python coding skills, maybe facet-time series graphs are doable.  But, be warned.  There is high hurdle rate there in terms of coding skills.  

Here is a multi variables regular Python graph that came out very well.

 

Here is the comparable R graph that came out equally well. 

 

Here is an R facet graph that came out very well. 

Will stock markets survive in 200 years? Some won't make it till 2050

Within a related study “The next 200 years and beyond” (see URLs below), 

 

The next 200 years at Slideshare

 

The next 200 years at SlidesFinder

 

... we disclosed that population and economic growth can’t possibly continue beyond just a few centuries.

 

Just considering what seems like a benign scenario: 

 

 … Zero population growth with a 1% real GDP per capita growth … 

 

… would result in the World economy becoming 8 times greater within 288 years and 16 times greater within 360 years.  Thus, the mentioned scenario, as projected over the long term, is not feasible.  

 

This study contemplates how will stock markets survive in the absence of any demographic and economic growth.  The whole body of finance supporting stock markets (CAPM, Dividend Growth model, Internal Rate of Return, Net Present Value) evaporates in the absence of a growth input (market rate of return, dividend growth, etc.). 

 

And, current trends over the past few decades confirm the World is already heading in that direction.  In our minds, this raised existential considerations for stock markets. 

 

This study uncovered several stock markets that already experience current and prospective growth constraints.  And, the survival of several of those markets till 2050 appear questionable. 

 

Place yourself in the shoes of college graduates entering the labor force and investing in their 401K for retirement.  The common wisdom is to invest the majority of such funds in the stock market to reap maximum growth over the long term.  Such a well established strategy, would most probably not work out for the majority of the 11 markets reviewed.  And, it could be devastating if the college grad lives in Greece, Italy, or Ukraine. 

 

Similar considerations, within the same mentioned countries, would affect any institutional investors focused on the long term such as pension funds, endowment funds, insurers, retail index fund investors, etc.

 

In the US, we may be spared these bearish considerations, but for how long?  A century or two from now, we in the US may be affected by the same considerations.  

 

You can see the complete study at the following link below: 

 Stock market in 200 years at Slideshare