In an age where so many economies are desperately trying not to lose any more ground in the present, could it be that the ones more responsive to their rank-and-file electorates are the ones in the best position to (to borrow a quickly forgotten phrase) win the future?

This week, voters in the United Kingdom went to the polls and decided strongly against a referendum on switching federal elections to alternative voting, or “AV,” also known as “instant-runoff voting” (IRV).

In the Massachusetts governor’s race, Independent candidate Tim Cahill’s running mate, Paul Loscocco, has withdrawn from the race and endorsed Republican Charlie Baker. Defection by one’s own running mate is rarely seen as good news for a campaign.