Links I liked (and a couple of stinkers)

First, the stinkers

Just when you thought the Daily Mail couldn’t sink any lower ….

How successful were the millennium development goals? This Guardian piece seems to equate correlation and causation – as far as I can see it gives no evidence whatsoever that the MDGs had anything to do with the acceleration of poverty reduction after 2000.

Next the grim, but important

Why do countries relapse into war? Analysis of 109 conflicts since 1970 finds some very thought provoking results, eg high levels of growth initially increase the likelihood of relapse, but over long term reduce it.

The World’s most homicidal cities are all in Latin America. Central America is by far the worst. Grim. h/t The Economist

Now for the more upbeat

Man tries to burn EU flag. Flag doesn’t burn because of EU regulations on flammable materials. Deeply satisfying h/t Brian Whitaker

Chris Blattman moves on from debating chickens v cash transfers to crossing swords with Lant Pritchett on the merits of targeting poverty v supporting economic growth

If you want to hear what I’ve been up to down under, here’s me being cross examined by Kathryn Ryan, New Zealand’s very cerebral national radio interviewer

Please support my old mates (and employers) at Latin America Bureau in their crowdfunding appeal to collect and publish the voices of Latin American activists

And as I arrive in Australia, you have to admit, they have the finest avian headbangers – make sure you watch to the end. V silly, but a good antidote to the Daily Mail