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Government statistical agencies and the politics of credibility /

"Who decides how official statistics are produced? Do politicians have control or are key decisions left to statisticians in independent statistical agencies? Interviews with statisticians in Australia, Canada, Sweden, the UK and the USA were conducted to get insider perspectives on the nature...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Howard, Cosmo. (Author)
Published: Cambridge University Press,
Publisher Address: Cambridge, United Kingdom :
Publication Dates: 2021.
Literature type: Book
Language: English
Series: Cambridge studies in comparative public policy
Subjects:
Statistical services.
Government information agencies.
Administrative agencies > Data processing > Standards.
Government accountability.
Truthfulness and falsehood.
Administrative agencies > Standards. > Standards.
Summary: "Who decides how official statistics are produced? Do politicians have control or are key decisions left to statisticians in independent statistical agencies? Interviews with statisticians in Australia, Canada, Sweden, the UK and the USA were conducted to get insider perspectives on the nature of decision making in government statistical administration. While the popular adage suggests there are 'lies, damned lies and statistics', this research shows that official statistics in liberal democracies are far from mistruths; they are consistently insulated from direct political interference. Yet, a range of subtle pressures and tensions exist that governments and statisticians must manage. The power over statistics is distributed differently in different countries, and this book explains why. Differences in decision-making powers across countries are the result of shifting pressures politicians and statisticians face to be credible, and the different national contexts that provide distinctive institutional settings for the production of government numbers."--Page 4 of cover.
Carrier Form: xiv, 230 pages : forms ; 24 cm.
Bibliography: Includes bibliographical references (pages 219-227) and index.
ISBN: 9781108491228 (hardcover) :
1108491227 (hardcover)
9781108867962 (electronic book)
1108867960 (electronic book)
Index Number: HA36
CLC: C829.1
Call Number: C829.1/H848
Contents: Credibility and official statistics -- Australia -- Canada -- Sweden -- The United Kingdom -- The United States of America.

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