Uncovering Patterns Among Latent Variables: Human Rights and De Facto Judicial Independence

Research & Politics (Forthcoming)

48 Pages Posted: 20 May 2015 Last revised: 13 Aug 2015

See all articles by Charles Crabtree

Charles Crabtree

University of Michigan - Political Science, Students

Christopher J. Fariss

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Department of Political Science

Date Written: August 12, 2015

Abstract

In this paper, we reexamine the relationship between judicial independence and state respect for human rights by taking advantage of new latent measures of both constructs. In our analysis, we demonstrate a simple method for incorporating the uncertainty of these latent variables. Results provide strong support for theoretical and empirical claims that independent courts are associated with human rights. Though we show that independent courts influence state behavior, the strength of the estimated relationship depends upon whether and to what degree empirical models account for uncertainty in the measurement of the latent variables.

Suggested Citation

Crabtree, Charles and Fariss, Christopher J., Uncovering Patterns Among Latent Variables: Human Rights and De Facto Judicial Independence (August 12, 2015). Research & Politics (Forthcoming), Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2607543 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2607543

Charles Crabtree

University of Michigan - Political Science, Students ( email )

Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

Christopher J. Fariss (Contact Author)

University of Michigan at Ann Arbor - Department of Political Science ( email )

Ann Arbor, MI 48109
United States

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