ABSTRACT
The verb ‘to compare’ means either to juxtapose or to differentiate. It implies recognition of difference between objects being compared just as much as similarity. On the other hand, ‘comparable’ unambiguously implies equivalence. Not surprisingly, comparison is common and comparability is much rarer. Comparison is not a matter of degree; comparability is. Whether the degree of comparability is adequate depends upon the purpose of the comparison. But even when the degree of comparability across countries is insufficient, for example to treat measures as additive, much may still be learned from comparison.
