Who gets the prize: the case for random distribution in non-market allocation M Phil thesis (2006): why a lottery can be the open, honest and fair way to distribute benefits. This explains the why, when and where of random allocation and distribution. NEW Feb 2008: Tibet: Bhuddist Abbots chosen by draw from golden urn Chinese Government revives ancient ritual School Choice by Lottery: It's happening in England NEW! 18th Jan 2008 Stop the trickery, it's got to be Lottery Says Schools Minister ...for more articles about this story in the English media 12th July 2007 Yes! Ballots are OK! Official Adjudicator rejects parents' complaints: Read summary ..... ..full adjudication here What do the parents think about lotteries? Important new primary research shows they can begin to like lotteries ...previously.. Brighton&Hove become the first Local Education Authority to decide that a borough-wide lottery will decide who gets the school places when demand exceeds supply (Feb 2007) No it wasn't first! They're doing it already in Hertfordshire Education Authority England: school choice must be by properly run lotteries Final orders on how to run a school place allocation lottery. From the Department for Education. Jan 2007 BBC Radio discusses the idea with Barbara Goodwin (includes audio link) 1619 Thomas Gataker B.D. publishes "Of the Nature and Use of Lots." ....... It's controversial, full of interesting facts. In 1627 he produced a 2nd edition. I'm updating it with notes and references, and it should be available next year. Award a job by selecting from the short-list by rolling dice? Award a place at a 'magnet' school by random selection? It's a crazy idea, but hey! It might work! Actually, it does work. For more than 30 years now, students have been selected for Medical School in Holland using a lottery. Every year the US government organises the Green Card citizenship lottery for entry into the USA. There are many more examples of lottery selection in current use On this website you can find out lots more about this highly democratic way of sharing out burdens and benefits. Click on one of the boxes above Let the dice, not frail and devious human judgement, decide my fate! Site set up and maintained by Conall Boyle For more about me, click on my name. visitors to this site since 1st Jan 2006