In The New York Times' "Campaign Stops" blog, Temple mathematician John Allen Paulos argues that most conventional political polls are simplistic. Many observers complain that media coverage of the campaign is too focused on the "horse race." In some ways, though, the coverage isn't even as nuanced as that of a horse race, where horses are picked to win, but also to place or to show." A better way to gauge voter preferences, writes Paulos: "Ask prospective voters to rank the candidates and not merely say which one is their first choice."

Ten years after China joined the World Trade Organization, state-owned enterprises are stronger than ever. A recently released Congressional report railed against the unfair advantages enjoyed by state-owned firms. In her new book, China's Regulatory State, Temple political scientist Roselyn Hsueh documents how, in sectors ranging from telecommunications to textiles, the government enforces rules selectively to keep private-sector rivals in their place.

Viewing your car as an extension of yourself can lead to aggressive driving, according to a new study by Fox School of Business marketing professor Ayalla Ruvio. The findings "suggest that the perception of the car as an extension of the self leads to more aggressive behavior on the road rather than increased driving cautiousness," and that "individuals may view cars and the road space they occupy as their territory and will seek to maintain control over it and defend it as necessary," the authors concluded.