Logit and probit (L/P) models are a mainstay of binary time-series cross-sectional (BTSCS) analyses. Researchers include cubic splines or time polynomials to acknowledge the temporal element inherent in these data. However, L/P models cannot easily accommodate three other aspects of the data’s temporality: whether covariate effects are conditional on time, whether the process of interest is causally complex, and whether our functional form assumption regarding time’s effect is correct. Failing to account for any of these issues amounts to misspecification bias, threatening our inferences’ validity. We argue scholars should consider using Cox duration models when analyzing BTSCS data, as they create fewer opportunities for such misspecification bias, while also having the ability to assess the same hypotheses as L/P. We use Monte Carlo simulations to bring new evidence to light showing Cox models perform just as well—and sometimes better—than logit models in a basic BTSCS setting, and perform considerably better in more complex BTSCS situations. In addition, we highlight a new interpretation technique for Cox models—transition probabilities—to make Cox model results more readily interpretable. We use an application from interstate conflict to demonstrate our points.

While the spatial weights matrix $\boldsymbol{W}$ is at the core of spatial regression models, there is a scarcity of techniques for validating a given specification of $\boldsymbol{W}$. I approach this problem from a measurement error perspective. When $\boldsymbol{W}$ is inflated by a constant, a predictable form of endogeneity occurs that is not problematic in other regression contexts. I use this insight to construct a theoretically appealing test and control for the validity of $\boldsymbol{W}$ that is tractable in panel data, which I call the K test. I demonstrate the utility of the test using Monte Carlo simulations.