They advocated tougher rules in cases of children who were abducted by relatives, said Joel Best, professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware.

CNN: Missing child case 'awakened America'

Mr Best, a professor of sociology and criminal justice at the University of Delaware, looks first at missing, confusing and scary numbers.

ECONOMIST: Damned lies and statistics

The best-known was devised by Max Weber, a father of modern sociology, who drew a connection between the Protestant ethic and the spirit of capitalism.

ECONOMIST: Religion and economics

The best way to deal with racial conflict is 24-hour immersion, says Charles Moskos, a professor of sociology at Northwestern University, who notes that the most effectively integrated institution in America is the army.

ECONOMIST: Fire services