In logistic regression analysis of small or sparse data sets, results obtained by classical maximum likelihood methods cannot be generally trusted. In such analyses it may even happen that the likelihood meets the convergence criteria while at least one parameter estimate diverges to +/-infinity. This situation has been termed 'separation', and it typically occurs whenever no events are observe...

Bryan Dowd (2010) should be commended for laying before us the historical roots of the tensions between statisticians and econometricians which, until today, perpetuate the myth that causal inference is somehow confusing, enigmatic, or controversial. While modern analysis has proven this myth baseless, it is often the historical accounts that put things in the proper perspective. I see the tens...