Here’s a paper I’ve been working on. Abstract is below; data and Sweave source [rename to .Rnw] also available.
One important characteristic of justice, and a fortiori of our judicial system, is impartiality. One type of impartiality in judicial practice is impartiality between litigants who command status and material resources — the `haves’ — and litigants [...]
Mark Pack asked about the trade union vote. Here’s a weighted table pulled from the BES pre-electoral polling, the only wave that included a question about trade union membership.
yes, trade union yes, staff association no don’t know
labour [...]
I was very struck recently by the FT’s ranking of EU finance ministers.
It’s a rare venture into rating ministers other than Presidents or Prime Ministers. And, it’s been repeated over time.
I thought it might be useful to gather data on rankings over time, and construct a measure of finance minister “greatness” comparing across time. To [...]
I’m quite surprised that Monti wants to stay until 2013.
That’s a long time for a technocratic government. Assume that elections in 2013 take place exactly five years after those of 2008, on the 13th and 14th. By that time, Monti would have been in office for 514 days.
That’s a month longer than Dini who, IMHO, [...]
It is a good thing that Berlusconi has resigned as Prime Minister. Hallelujah.
Some people are upset about the way in which Berlusconi was forced to leave office. Those who are upset fall into two camps. One left-leaning camp is upset that Berlusconi was forced out by bond traders. One right-leaning camp (at least the version [...]