Good to Know: Issue importance in politics
Here's how voters’ priorities matter.
Russia’s allies have been pretty quiet on Ukraine
Here’s what might happen next within the ‘BRICS’ bloc
With Democrats in charge in Washington, expect red states’ policies to get redder
That’s what our research finds
Catalonia is just the most recent referendum on sovereignty. Why are they proliferating?
[caption id="attachment_71488" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Catalan regional police officers block the
Is there a payoff from U.S. intervention to protect U.S. assets? We found few trade benefits.
[caption id="attachment_65411" align="aligncenter" width="960"] U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Robert Dominguez,
In China, rumors are flying about David Dao’s alleged $140 million settlement from United Airlines
[caption id="attachment_58060" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Travelers check in at the United
This is how you stop fake news
“Fake news” has become big news. President Trump has regularly
Secret negotiations at the World Trade Organization create a big problem
[caption id="attachment_52151" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Activists shout slogans as they march
Democrats’ policies are more popular. But Republicans are more ideologically unified.
[caption id="attachment_38412" align="aligncenter" width="964"] (Agence France-Presse)[/caption] Many self-identified Republicans vote
International agreements to prohibit child labor don’t always work. Here’s why.
[caption id="attachment_43410" align="aligncenter" width="960"] An estimated 5 million children in
Here’s one way to prevent election violence in Africa
[caption id="attachment_3809" align="aligncenter" width="720"] An exhibit honors Nelson Mandela in
This research from Nigeria shows us how a government can build a tax base
[caption id="attachment_39114" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Nigeria's finance minister, Kemi Adeosun, speaks
How Wall Street became a big chunk of the U.S. economy — and when the Democrats signed on
[caption id="attachment_38035" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A Wall Street sign outside the New
The mixed record of Morocco’s February 20 protest movement.
[caption id="attachment_36080" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Morocco's King Mohammed VI right, and
What do citizens fear most — for the world, the nation, themselves? The answers might surprise you.
[caption id="attachment_34252" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Amtrak Special Operations Police patrol Union
Here’s why it matters that China is admitting that its statistics are ‘unreliable’
[caption id="attachment_33964" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A boat travels along a river near
No, we're not arguing from the same facts. How can democracies make good decisions if citizens are misinformed?
[caption id="attachment_21302" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Mike Stewart/Associated Press)[/caption] Joshua Tucker: As
No, we’re not arguing from the same facts. How can democracies make good decisions if citizens are misinformed?
[caption id="attachment_21302" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] (Mike Stewart/Associated Press)[/caption] Joshua Tucker: As
How trade affects U.S. elections
[caption id="attachment_24749" align="aligncenter" width="805"] Teamsters protest the granting of fast-track
How public deliberation helps economic stability
[caption id="attachment_23274" align="aligncenter" width="5017"] (iStock, Getty Images)[/caption] Partisan gridlock, union
Shopping for international human rights conventions
[caption id="attachment_20087" align="alignnone" width="620"] Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) delivers remarks
In Russia, the political impact of social media varies by platform
[caption id="attachment_19698" align="aligncenter" width="606"] Flag-waving and chanting demonstrators in December
A coup for democracy?
[caption id="" align="alignnone" width="480"] The head of the military junta,
Why the deal to pay Brazil $300 million just to keep U.S. cotton subsidies is bad for the WTO, poor countries, and U.S. taxpayers
[caption id="attachment_16699" align="aligncenter" width="605"] The U.S. prefers to pay $300
Educating those who will overthrow you
[caption id="attachment_16314" align="alignnone" width="310"] University students from across Hong Kong
Debating the benefits of rebel brutality
[caption id="attachment_15196" align="aligncenter" width="620"] People gather to look at burned
The hunt for stable democracy
[caption id="attachment_14092" align="alignnone" width="620"] Thai Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha
How oil helps dictatorships survive
Thai military secure a bridge adjacent to the Bangkok sky
What good is a fake legislature?
Joshua Tucker: As part of our continuing collaboration with political
How democracies are gamed for power and profit: an addendum to Piketty
Joshua Tucker: As part of our continuing collaboration with political
China inflates its GDP statistics
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special="CHNOUT"] A customer looks at items
‘Humanitarian’ appeals encourage a permissive immigration policy
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Irma Morales (front center) of
'Humanitarian' appeals encourage a permissive immigration policy
[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Irma Morales (front center) of
What makes some elections violent?
[caption id="attachment_6049" align="aligncenter" width="610" special=""] Bangladeshi police officers kick a
Can competitive elections decrease investment? Yes.
[caption id="attachment_2733" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] (Associated Press)[/caption] [Joshua Tucker: Continuing
Does public broadcasting increase current affairs knowledge?
[Joshua Tucker: Continuing our series of collaboration with political science
Dangerous neighborhoods: Why the 'Democratic Peace' may have more to do with geography than democracy
[caption id="attachment_140" align="aligncenter" width="584" special=""] Figure: International Law and Policy
Coups, Democracy, and Aid
As a commentator on Jeremy Pressman's excellent blog post noted,
Whither Nation Building? Lessons for Iraq, Syria, and Mali
The following guest post is provided by George Washington University
Steven Levitt says that he has a “good indicator” that Aaron Edlin, Noah Kaplan, Nate Silver, and I are “not so smart”
Here's the transcript (link from here): DUBNER: So Levitt, how
The Long Run Dynamics of Territorial Disputes
In my last post I suggested that public reactions of
Compared to national popular vote, the electoral college favors voters in small states (on average), not large states. It’s because of those extra 2 electoral votes that each state gets!
The other day, in discussing the virtues of the electoral
Jonathan Chait and I agree about the importance of the fundamentals in determining presidential elections
Johathan Chait writes: Parties and candidates will kill themselves to
Forget the Dukakis-in-a-tank effect: the Democrats would’ve lost in 1988 even if they’d had Burt Reynolds at the top of the ticket
Jonathan Chait writes that the most important aspect of a
Yes, it can be rational to vote. Yes, your vote could determine the outcome of the election. Maybe if 90% of well-educated, older white people do something, we shouldn’t be so quick to dismiss it as “irrational.” Etc.
Seeing as the Freakonomics people were kind enough to link
Why Such a Quick Coalition Formation?
I agree with Matt Yglesias that it is pretty amazing
What Do We Know About Minority Governments?
And so the British have their "hung parliament." While there
Ideological Polarization and the Lib Dem vote.
"Matthew Yglesias":http://yglesias.thinkprogress.org/archives/2010/05/blame-the-electoral-system-or-blame-the-party-leaders.php talks about the UK party system. bq. For
Free polsci journals for you
The _British Journal of Political Science_ (usually regarded as not
Environmental and Healthcare Reform: Thoughts From Someone who Teaches Intro to Comparative Politics
As both the cap and trade and health care debates
Where Do Electoral “Mandates” Come From?
In a British Journal of Political Science article (abstract here)