What it means for statistics to serve the public good (and why it matters)

What is it about?

The statistics that governments make and share with society (known as 'official statistics') should serve the public good. But what does 'serving the public good' mean in this context? And how can we take steps to help statistics serve the public good? This article proposes an initial idea about two ways in which official statistics can serve the public good. The first way is through reflecting the world and recording it for society. The second way is through being actively used, which can improve lots of people's lives. The article itself gives examples of how to make official statistics more likely to be used, (for example by understanding users needs or explaining why official statistics are important), and explains how working for statistics to serve the public good helps statistics provide value. Finally, the article invites readers to get in touch if they want to shape future understanding of how statistics serve the public good.

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Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash

Photo by Carlos Muza on Unsplash

Why is it important?

Our initial proposal about how official statistics can serve the public good is an opportunity for any reader to share their views on whether or not we have 'got it right'. This will feed into future understanding of how official statistics can serve the public good, and in turn that will influence how official statistics are produced.

Perspectives