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Letter to the Editor,
Statistical Expertise
Letter to the Editor that appeared in the Financial Times on January
11, 2007; it is an example of my expertise,
knowledge, and history of statistical gathering agencies. |
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Statistical reminder from
US history
By Bruce Steinberg
Published: January 11 2007 02:00
From Mr Bruce Steinberg.
Sir, The need to make the producers of official government statistics
independent from the society and government they are measuring, regardless
of the country, is paramount, as you indicate in your editorial "Not lies
but statistics" (January 8).
Reliable and credible industry and market intelligence are essential to
develop and maintain efficient markets as well as for transparent and
pertinent public policy development.
As the UK parliament debates the issue, it may want to review history and
learn how Richard Nixon pressured the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to
change and/or delay the release of unemployment and consumer price index
figures.
Fortunately, career executives at the BLS staunchly resisted although some
careers were affected.
Bruce Steinberg,
Employment & Economic Consultant,
Alexandria, VA 22309, US
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