There is lots to be said about Andrew Philpott Morgan's message. But one
point about economic statistics and social statistics deserves immediate
response because the matter should be of ascertainable fact and should be of
general interest.
Does anyone know of any estimates of expenditure on economic statistics
relative to that of social statistics?
In terms of outputs there is a constrast. Economic statistics became
established more than half a century ago in response to acceptance of
Keynesian demonstration of the possibiltiy of managing the economy. The
blue books have become fatter and more detailed over the years but it is not
clear whether the greater detail shown has required commensurate increases
in costs.
But as far as social surveys are concerned there has been a dramatic
transformation. In the 1960s there were only two regularly conducted
social surveys - the National Food Survey and the Family Expenditure Survey.
The 2001 census question on religion means that it can now be said that
every important aspect of life in Britain is now covered by a major social
survey. Not all of these are paid for by government. The Household
Panel Survey, the British Social Attitudes Surveys, the 1994 National Survey
of Sexual Atttudes and Lifestyles, and numerous surveys conducted by the
media industry are privately financed.
But the transformation has been marked in government surveys. The NFS and
FES are now merged. The General Household Survey first conducted in 1971
has been followed by the National Travel Survey, the Labour Force Survey,
the British Crime Survey, the Family Resources Survey, and numerous Health
Surveys, Housing Surveys and developments in longitudinal studies.
No one can complain nowadays at lack of survey evidence. Andrew says that
Radstats has been campaiging for years for a higher priority for social
surveys. These campaigns seem to have been successful! What might
Radstats campaign for nowadays?
Ray Thomas, Faculty of Social Sciences
Open University,
35 Passmore, Tinkers Bridge, MK6 3DY
Tel 01908 679081 Fax 01908 550401
Email: [log in to unmask]
******************************************************
Please note that if you press the 'Reply' button your
message will go only to the sender of this message.
If you want to reply to the whole list, use your mailer's
'Reply-to-All' button to send your message automatically
to [log in to unmask]
*******************************************************
|