About Conall Boyle:
Hi. That's me, Conall Boyle, outside the Bouleoterion in the Agora, Athens. (ok old pic, but this is my website!) This was the Council Chamber, supreme authority for all Athenians. To become a Councillor you had to be selected by the kleroterion, which was a lottery machine. This, and not elections, is what they meant by 'Democracy'
After many years teaching Economics to Building and Surveying students at UCE - University of Central England,(now Birmingham City Univ.), I've now been 'retired' in South Wales for more than a decade. As well as the usual adorable grandchildren, travel, cycling, family history etcetera, I keep up my interest in Basic Income, the Housing Market, Land Value Taxation and Money Creation.
(more on Housing, Money and Land )
and I've also started a blog
Houses Better Cheaper More
which has led to a book (2022) 'Stop House Prices Rising'.
But my main activity in 'retirement' was researching 'Who gets the prize: the case for random distribution in non-market allocation' at the Economics Department, Swansea University. M Phil 2006. Two books followed 'Gataker: The nature and Uses of Lotteries' in 2008 and 'Lotteries for Education' in 2010. Click on 'My Papers' link above to find out more about this simple yet revolutionary idea.
But these days I seem to be mostly editing and selling books and booklets for the Kenfig Society
link out Kenfig Society
Since Covid, the Society is no longer active, but I maintain the website and an electronic Print Archive. V4 due in 2024, filled with masses of information relating to Kenfig.
and doing my bit for walking and cycling as Sustrans Local Ranger (sadly now retired due to knee problems)
Sustrans link out
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Conall Boyle: born 1942 in Dublin. Educated by Jesuits (Gonzaga) and Franciscans (Gormanston);
then at University College, Dublin – degree in Mechanical Engineering (1964).
Emigrated to Birmingham UK to work for four years in production engineering at the Lucas car parts factories.
Then for 34 years, lecturing in Statistics and Economics at what was eventually called Birmingham City University.
B Sc Economics (London external 1972), M Sc in Industrial Statistics (Aston 1980), M Soc Sci (by thesis, Birmingham 1991) on 'Housebuilding Quality'.
Finally? 'Who gets the Prize: The case for random allocation in non-market allocation' M Phil 2006 Swansea University.
Books: 'Mastering Statistics with your Microcomputer' 1986; 'In the footsteps of the Gunpowder Plotters' 1994; 'The Nature and Uses of Lotteries' 2008; 'Lotteries for Education' 2010; 'Stop house Prices Rising' 2022..
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THE KLEROTERIANS: In the middle picture (above) is a 'Kleroterion' —– a randomising device used by the ancient Athenians. On its left would have been a funnel which fed out black or white balls at random. One ball is shown in the picture on the right. Name tags (righthand picture) from a stack would then either be inserted in a slot in the Kleroterion (white ball) or rejected. In this way the Athenian citizens were selected for a year of service to their 'polis'.
Using the name THE KLEROTERIANS, we've set up a Blog and a Facebook page for people interested in the idea of sometimes letting random chance decide. If you'd like to join in the discussion, please link to either or both of the addresses below.
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