Measurement and its Uses: Harmonization and Quality in Social Statistics

Alain Desrosières

International Statistical Review, 2000, vol. 68, issue 2, 173-187

Abstract: The European construction has induced a strong demand of harmonization of statistics of the various countries. The latter can be focused on an harmonization of outputs, already practised for a long time by national accountants: the statistical variables are defined in common, then each country measures them according to its own means. On the other hand, the harmonization of inputs, more ambitious, seeks a standardization of all the construction process and data collection. This leads to distinguish clearly the two moments of use and of production of economic and social statistics. Now the same distinction is made in the debates over the notion of quality of statistics, which contrast the quality of the product with the one of the process. This quality cannot be judged independently from the expected uses of these statistics and of their form of social credibility. From this point of view, the various harmonization levels are compared with the various forms of connection and convertibility between the national currencies.

Date: 2000
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