Description
Book SynopsisWho 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 ContentsIntroduction; 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.
