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The implications o f the editorial bias of academic journals for the selection of articles with apparently statistically significant findings are widely recognized but largely ignored. Few worry about the incentives the publishing bias presents to researchers for empirical abuse that brings into question the basis of social science knowledge. One possible solution, desirable but probably impractical, is to review articles with statistical results and conclusions omitted. Another, more practical, approach is to guarantee journal space for replication of previously published research. Finally, editors should take greater care in warning readers about findings that implicitly make unfounded statistical claims.

What factors determine the plea bargain which prosecutors will offer defendants? What factors determine whether or not a defendant will demand a trial? W. Landes ("An Economic Analysis of the Courts," Journal of Law & Economics, 1971, 24, 61-108) provides an economic model of the criminal courts which suggests answers to these questions. While several researchers have provided empirical analysis at least consistent with the Landes model, there has been no test of the model's power for predicting individual case decisions. After providing a derivation of a rational choice model similar to that of Landes, but incorporating organizational considerations, empirical validity of the model is tested using individual case data, drawn from the Alameda County, Calif, Superior Court records for defendants entering guilty pleas or going to jury trials in 1975. Major predictions, including the structural form of the plea-bargain-offer equation, are validated. Plea bargaining seems to be a function of the expected length of the trial sentence. A discussion of the application of the model to aid in prosecution management is presented, including an indication of the importance of looking at the distribution of prediction errors as well as the overall rate of prediction error. Comments are made concerning the use of econometrics in an organizational context. 5 Tables, Appendixes. Modified HA.

Updated in a new 5th edition, this book lays a strong conceptual foundation to understanding the rationales of and limitations to public policy. It gives practical advice about how to do policy analysis while demonstrating the application of advanced analytical techniques through case study examples.Policy Analysis: Concepts and Practices is a comprehensive, accessible, and rich introduction to policy analysis for readers in public policy, public administration, and business programs.