Clustering of Local Group distances: publication bias or correlated
  measurements? III. The Small Magellanic Cloud
  Aiming at providing a firm mean distance estimate to the Small Magellanic
Cloud (SMC), and thus to place it within the internally consistent Local Group
distance framework we recently established, we compiled the current-largest
database of published distance estimates to the galaxy. Based on careful
statistical analysis, we derive mean distance estimates to the SMC using
eclipsing binary systems, variable stars, stellar population tracers, and star
cluster properties. Their weighted mean leads to a final recommendation for the
mean SMC distance of $(m-M)_0^{\rm SMC} = 18.96 \pm 0.02$ mag, where the
uncertainty represents the formal error. Systematic effects related to
lingering uncertainties in extinction corrections, our physical understanding
of the stellar tracers used, and the SMC's complex geometry---including its
significant line-of-sight depth, its irregular appearance which renders
definition of the galaxy's center uncertain, as well as its high inclination
and possibly warped disk---may contribute additional uncertainties possibly
exceeding 0.15--0.20 mag.
