Toward Improved Use of Regression in Macro-comparative Analysis

I agree with much of what Michael Shalev (2007) says in his paper, both about the limits of multiple regression and about how to improve quantitative analysis in macro-comparative research. With respect to the latter, Shalev suggests three avenues for advance: (1) improve regression through technical refinement; (2) combine regression with case studies (triangulation); (3) turn to alternative methods of quantitative analysis such as multivariate tables and graphs or factor analysis (substitution). I want to suggest some additional ways in which the use of regression in macrocomparative analysis could be improved. None involves technical refinement. Instead, most have to do with relatively basic aspects of quantitative analysis that seem, in my view, to be commonly ignored or overlooked.