In this chapter, we open a large box with questions and reflections about the scientific
background of official statistics. First, it will be about knowledge: how can we know that we …

The term 'statistics' is used differently; it can refer to a science, a certain kind of information or
institutions. Essentially, statistics is the science of learning from data. Certainly, it is a …

The rise of big data and ongoing political and social transformations confront official
statistics with important questions regarding its self-understanding and its role in public …

This chapter is about the 'making of'official statistics. The processes, structures and actors
that are crucial for the high quality are to be presented. Official statistics are understood as …

What the future has in store for us is, not easily predictable. Certainly, foresight does not lie
in the very nature of statisticians, who usually look in the rear-view mirror. Nevertheless …

Statistics in the form of key figures, graphs and rankings play an increasingly important role
in everyday life today. One characteristic of good governance is that political decisions are …

The data revolution has resulted in discussions in the statistical community on the future of
official statistics. Will official statistics survive as a brand, or will such statistics drown in the …

While science and politics operate according to different logics, they have become
considerably intertwined over time. Two opposing, but interrelated, developments can be …

The last years have witnessed a dramatic increase in the demand for statistical information.
This fact is putting the institutions responsible for the production of official statistics–mainly …

It is easy to feel that official statistics faces unprecedented challenges in being a trusted
voice for evidence. Official statistics are released into a foggy and polluted atmosphere full of …