Autonomy of National Statistical Offices

1
Autonomy of National Statistical Offices

• Dennis Trewin

2
UN Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics

• Provides the framework (adopted by UNSC in 1995)
• Principle 1. Official statistics provide an
  indispensable element in the information system
  of a democratic society, serving the Government,
  the economy and the public with data about the
  economic, demographic, social and environmental
  situation. To this end, official statistics that
  meet the test of practical utility are to be
  compiled and made available on an impartial basis
  by official statistical agencies to honor
  citizens' entitlement to public
  information.Principle 2. To retain trust in
  official statistics, the statistical agencies
  need to decide according to strictly professional
  considerations, including scientific principles
  and professional ethics, on the methods and
  procedures for the collection, processing,
  storage and presentation of statistical data.

3
IMF Special Data Dissemination Standards

• IMFs Special Data Dissemination Standards stress
  the importance of the integrity of official
  statistics (and a supporting legal and
  institutional framework)
• Seen as part of good governance
• Can be examined in ROSC reviews (if looking for
  an IMF view on the existing system)

4
Why is it important?

• For governments
• In the interest of government to have access to
  good quality, trustworthy statistics
• Trust in governments increases if their
  performance is measured by a trusted source
• Policy intervention based on fact not anecdotes
  (as happens with macroeconomic policy)
• Government are one step removed from the official
  statistics (giving them more freedom in how to
  respond)

5
Why is it important?

• For others
• Facilitates good decision making
• Citizens know what is happening (in a democracy
  this enables them to act in an informed way)

6
What are some of the key elements of autonomy?

• Authority to decide statistical methods
• Ability to determine what to publish
• Independence to determine release dates
• Authority to approve of Publications (without
  also seeking political approval)
• Public knowledge of pre-embargo access
  arrangements

7
Responsibility come with autonomy

• Public accountability through annual reports, etc
• Some key decisions may need to be publicly
  explained
• There may need to be public consultation before
  some decisions are made
• Some decisions may not please Ministers!

8
Autonomy of ABS

• Widely accepted as the right way of doing things
  by all political parties, the media and the
  public
• Specified in law
• Government can direct ABS to conduct statistical
  collections and determines budgets no other
  legal authorities
• ABS still treats Government as its most important
  client!
• Pre-release is provided for selected statistics

9
UK National Statistics Code of Practice

• Resulted as a consequence of public inquiry (A
  Matter of Trust) because of deep mistrust of
  objectivity of official statistics
• Key elements
• Integrity (At all stages in the production and
  dissemination of official statistics, the public
  interest should prevail over organisational,
  political or personal interests)
• Relevance
• Sound methodolgy and assured quality

10
UK National Statistics Code of Practice
(continued)

• Value for money
• Communication (Statistics and information about
  statistical processes should be published in a
  form convenient to users and in much detail as
  practicable)
• Accessibility
• Confidentiality (Should not be used for
  non-statistical purposes)
• Burden on respondents should be proportionate to
  the value of statistics
• Adequate resources

11
Case Study - Mexico

• Have recently changed legislation to increase
  autonomy (reference Journal of IAOS)
• Driving force was political perception was that
  Government manipulated elections and key
  statistical information to its own convenience
• A number of autonomous agencies were introduced
  (Central Bank, Elections Institute, Human Rights
  Commission, Institute for Access to Information,
  Chief Auditor, NSS)

12
Mexico (continued)

• New law established the rules of organisation and
  operation of NSS (known as INEGI) in accordance
  with principles of accessibility, transparency,
  objectivity and independence
• Supported by Governing Board
• Although increase in autonomy was politically
  driven, the design of the NSS was put in place by
  INEGI

13
Issues for Discussion

• What are the main concerns about the lack of
  authority?
• How do you resist inappropriate requests by
  governments?