Mar 06
In California multiple (usually defense-oriented) articles are being published about the importance of a class action trail reversal in re: Duran v. US Bank National Association, California Court of Appeal, 1st Appellate Dist., (February 6, 2012). The articles incorrectly claim that statistical sampling cannot be used to prove liability in a class action case. The …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/03/duran-class-action-reversal-not-near-as-important-as-suggested/
Feb 29
Regression analysis is a statistical technique that is commonly used in litigation because of its unique ability to ascertain both liability and damages. Specifically, litigation invariably involves questions of (i) whether event x caused event y, and (ii) if so, how much did y change because of x. As regression is used more frequently among …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/02/a-primer-on-regression-analysis/
Feb 24
The lockout shortened the NBA season by nearly two months while the number games was not proportionately reduced, resulting in a more compacted game schedule and shorter resting periods between games. Is it possible that the lack of rest equalizes the playing field (or court in this case) by rewarding young athleticism at the expense …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/02/is-the-nba-more-competitive-after-the-lockout/
Jan 31
When used with financial instruments, options are a contract between two parties in which one party has the right, but not the obligation, to do something. Usually, the option involves buying or selling an underlying asset. Having rights without obligations has financial value, so option holders must purchase these rights at a price, called a …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/01/a-primer-on-valuing-options/
Jan 17
In a recent report issued by Munich Re, a reinsurance group in Germany, 2011 was the costliest year in history for natural disasters with $380 billion in economic losses. Although some believe that global warming will continue to increase both the number and the extent of natural disasters, this report shows that 2011 was more about the geographic location, and less about the cause …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2012/01/natural-disasters-economic-losses-hit-record-high-in-2011/
Dec 11
On December 8, 2011, the Federal Reserve released its third quarter 2011 report, “Flow of Funds Accounts in the United States”. A virtual cornucopia of data, the report is 127 pages of detailed tables of assets, liabilities and changes in the U.S. If you are an economic data nerd, it is almost all one could …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/12/federal-reserve%e2%80%99s-statistics-show-pain-at-u-s-households/
Nov 28
On October 25, 2011, United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) added regulatory provisions formally recognizing the use of sampling methods in CBP audits, and in importer disclosures. The final regulations do not materially change the proposed regulation issued around two years ago. Statistical sampling is a practical and expeditious way to accurately assess large …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/11/sampling-methods-and-offsets-now-available-in-customs-matters/
Aug 03
Massachusetts has taken steps to close a loophole in one of its lottery games called “Cash WinFall”, which had been successfully exploited by a few statistically savvy individuals and groups. The lottery game was first launched in 2004, with the odds of picking all six numbers reported as over 1 in 9 million. However, the rules …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/08/statistical-skills-rewarded-in-massachusetts-lottery/
Jun 02
Most never even knew what the “Gold Card Desk” was before it was abolished last week, not even in Los Angeles where it inhabited for the last 20 years. The “Gold Card Desk” is an esoteric service that allows Los Angles city government officials to fast track parking citation reviews that they receive. A plastic parking bureau Gold Card was distributed to …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/what-statistics-can-tell-us-about-the-ditching-of-l-a-s-gold-card-desk/
Jun 02
Most never even knew what the “Gold Card Desk” was before it was abolished last week, not even in Los Angeles where it inhabited for the last 20 years. The “Gold Card Desk” is an esoteric service that allows Los Angles city government officials to fast track parking citation reviews that they receive. A plastic parking bureau Gold Card was distributed to …
Permanent link to this article: https://betweenthenumbers.net/2011/06/what-statistics-can-tell-us-about-the-ditching-of-l-a-s-gold-card-desk-2/
