<HTML> hi, sorry to be one of those people who just asks questions and doesnt add anything to the discussions (stealing from the commons, i suppose), but i was hoping to get some help from you fine economists on two subjects: 1) regression analysis (on computer).  ive never done one before, and i dont have even the faintest clue how to go about it. and 2) good measures for demonstrating connections or integration of a given country or countries and the international economy, aside from loans, aid and exports.  also, where would be the best place to look for these numbers (including loans, aid and exports)? this is for a paper im trying to write on the connections between de-linking or self-reliance development strategies (such as those advocated by dependency theorists like andre gunder frank and theorists of unequal exchange like samir amin) and quality of life, education and health.  im looking at ghana as a country that "de-linked" only in the sense that there was a reduction in its connections with western international capitalism but not in the sense of a self-initiated strategy of restructuring and democratization, and zimbabwe as a country with strong connections to the developed nations, and tanzania as a country that has meeting most fully the criteria of self-reliance.   thank you.  keith </HTML>