Quantitative Models and Methods for World-System Analysis

Abstract

Many quantitative analysts who have turned their attention to the world-system have developed models of the structural and relational components of that system. These efforts have come under fire, however, from those who claim that statistical techniques, particularly regression, are not suited to analyses of the world-system. This paper presents some of the major criticisms of quantitative efforts, a response to each, and a series of general regression models with applicability to world-system analyses. Discussion of the means by which data may be selected for the proposed analytical models is also offered.