In statistical exercises where there are several candidate models, the traditional approach is to select one model using some data driven criterion and use that model for estimation, testing and other purposes, ignoring the variability of the model selection process. We discuss some problems associated with this approach. An alternative scheme is to use a model-averaged estimator, that is, a we...

In statistical exercises where there are several candidate models, the traditional approach is to select one model using some data driven criterion and use that model for estimation, testing and other purposes, ignoring the variability of the model selection process. We discuss some problems associated with this approach. An alternative scheme is to use a model-averaged estimator, that is, a we...

Introduction The following paper identifies and takes issue with a potentially troubling development in the study of comparative politics. While political scientists have traditionally deployed objective indicators of “political organization and administrative capacity” (Reynolds 1983, p. 976), including tax ratios (Organski and Kugler 1980; Benson and Kugler 1998), tax structures (Kling 1968; ...