Perhaps the most difficult aspect of constructing a multi-dimensional index is that of choosing weights for the components. This problem is often bypassed by adopting the ‘agnostic’ option of equal weights, as in the Human Development Index. This is an annual ranking of countries produced by...

Educationalists are well able to find fault with rankings on numerous grounds and may reject them outright. However, given that they are here to stay, we could also try to improve them wherever possible. All currently published university rankings combine various measures to produce an overall...

We consider the problem of fitting a linear model for a number of variables but without treating any one of these variables as special, in contrast to regression where one variable is singled out as being a dependent variable. Each of the variables is allowed to have error or natural variability...

It is well established that the standard measure of correlation (Pearson’s product-moment) is very sensitive to outliers. It can give extremely misleading results when a few or even a single outlier is present. A number of robust correlation measures have been proposed. We do not consider...

We highlight differences in the way multiplicative DEA is being applied and draw attention to the fact that a units-invariant (i.e. scale-invariant) form is available. Moreover, this model avoids the ‘zero weight problem' in DEA (where criteria are effectively ignored)

The World Happiness Report is published by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network and contains an international ranking of national average happiness, as measured by surveys of personal life evaluations. It also contains an analysis which tries to explain the happiness...