Description

Book Synopsis
Who decides how official statistics are produced? Do politicians have control or are decisions left to independent statistical agencies? Interviews with statisticians in Australia, Canada, Sweden, the UK and the USA reveal that the power over statistics is distributed differently across countries, and this book explains why.

Trade Review
'In this dramaturgical sociology of statisticians in five liberal democracies, Cosmo Howard has produced a wonderfully rich set of insights into expertise, authority and the public performances of statistical systems. This enjoyable and in-depth examination uncovers the struggles for credibility of both politicians and statisticians, in the twenty-first century. In doing so it highlights the importance of performative strategies for all experts.' Jenny M Lewis, Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia

Table of Contents
Introduction; 1. Credibility and official statistics; 2. Australia; 3. Canada; 4. Sweden; 5. The United Kingdom; 6. The United States of America; 7. Conclusions; Notes; List of cited interviews by order of appearance; References; Index.

Government Statistical Agencies and the Politics

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    A Paperback by Cosmo Wyndham Howard

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      Book details

      Publisher Cambridge University Press
      Published 3 September 2023
      ISBN-13 9781108811750
      978-1108811750
      ISBN-10 1108811752
      Also in:
      Business, Finance & Law Econometrics and economic statistics Finance and the finance industry Comparative politics

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      Who decides how official statistics are produced? Do politicians have control or are decisions left to independent statistical agencies? Interviews with statisticians in Australia, Canada, Sweden, the UK and the USA reveal that the power over statistics is distributed differently across countries, and this book explains why.

      Trade Review
      'In this dramaturgical sociology of statisticians in five liberal democracies, Cosmo Howard has produced a wonderfully rich set of insights into expertise, authority and the public performances of statistical systems. This enjoyable and in-depth examination uncovers the struggles for credibility of both politicians and statisticians, in the twenty-first century. In doing so it highlights the importance of performative strategies for all experts.' Jenny M Lewis, Professor, University of Melbourne, Australia

      Table of Contents
      Introduction; 1. Credibility and official statistics; 2. Australia; 3. Canada; 4. Sweden; 5. The United Kingdom; 6. The United States of America; 7. Conclusions; Notes; List of cited interviews by order of appearance; References; Index.

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