"...An explanation becomes more parsimonious than another when it uses a smaller number of explanatory variable while explaining at least as much as its opponent. For example, it is more parsimonious to model the solar system as heliocentric than terracentric, because the former uses far simpler mathematics to account for at least as many planetary... Continue Reading →
Why we are toast: Aussie Corporate perspectives on #climate innovation
Mikler, J and Harrison, N. 2013. Climate Innovation: Australian Corporate Perspectives on the Role of Government. Australian Journal of Politics and History, Vol. 59, (3), pp.414-428. Nothing I have learnt in the last two years of reading a lot (no, even by my OCD*-ish standards) has so much as grazed - let alone dented -... Continue Reading →
“Hormetic consolidation” – Marc’s bid for immortality
So, you adopt just enough of the opposing coalition's rhetoric and even one or two of their trivial policy recommendations (from what the ACF crowd would call the secondary aspects'). And this makes you look reasonable, and the opponents look churlish if they don't applaud your reasonableness. And either way it (probably) takes some wind... Continue Reading →
Bristol and public policy geek-out-ery
Lovely 24-ish hours in Bristol, seeing my sainted aunt, and then my oldest UK-friend, whom I have known since 1997. Lots of good beer, good pizza, good conversation. #Aintnosintobegladyourealive Meanwhile, on the journeys to and from and in-between, I read a bunch of policy papers, and have come up with more terms for the ever-expanding... Continue Reading →
Encouraging words and help from senior academic
Bless the internet for enabling rapid free communication with clued-up people around the world (as someone just old enough to remember having to send letters to people and getting (with luck) a reply two or three weeks later, this is an under-noticed improvement in our lives. I contacted a very senior (and also interesting -... Continue Reading →
Adventures in policy concepts…
Public policy for fun and ... profit? I've been on a major reading binge over the last month or so (Policy Studies Journal, I'm looking at you). Most of that has been around three theories/frameworks/models - Advocacy Coalitions Framework, Punctuated Equilibrium and Multiple Streams. Why? To try to test/extend the Dialectical Issue LifeCycle Model, especially... Continue Reading →
Things I learnt about presenting at SPRU DPhil conference
Apologies if this is banal! Thanks to the session chairs, who gave very good advice and support. What advice to other people have?? Before Be realistic about how much material you can get through (how many slides, how much theoretical ground you can cover) Black text on white background is good. White text on... Continue Reading →
Ways to (D)Phil your brain – SPRU’s 22nd student conference
What follows is in no way an “official” (nor even necessarily entirely accurate) account of the two day event for PhD students at the Science and Policy Research Unit (SPRU), University of Sussex. First off, thanks and congratulations to the 1st year cohort of students who organised it. The Monday started with brief opening... Continue Reading →
Hookworm and the class struggle…
Wow. It's almost as if there is a long-running class war where the rich try to demoralise and demean the poor, kick them in the teeth and then blame them for not having a nice smile. I know, I know, crazy conspiracy theory... "Bringing a condition under human control often poses a challenge to old... Continue Reading →
Invisible women, slow violence and academic lacunae(?) #Manchester University lecture
The lecture - about the high cost of cheap clothes - was brilliant. It was frustrating, for a reason I could only put my finger on after the Q&A (l’esprit de l’escalier). The Global Development Institute of University of Manchester is putting on a two-day workshop. Tonight’s seminar, “Global Value Chains, Market-Making, and the Rise of... Continue Reading →
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