Rethinking official statistics: A sociological perspective

Abstract

Does the current dialogue on the development of statistical systems provide adequate scope for transforming official statistics to deliver their social role? Can statistical systems, as currently defined, provide opportunities to people and non-state institutions to influence “what” statistics and “how” should be produced and used? This paper provides a sociological framework to investigate these questions within a broader understanding of the social functions of official statistics as part of public statistics required for a democratic society.