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The Development of Economic Statistics as an Influence on Theory and Policy

In: National Income and Economic Progress

Author

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  • Alec Cairncross

Abstract

Colin Clark’s most important contribution has undoubtedly been to economic statistics. He showed us, so to speak, how to play with statistics: how, by means of a little speculative arithmetic, to mix statistics that were firm with statistics that were far from firm and arrive at conclusions of major importance in resolving issues of economic policy. He opened up a world of the past in which one could still think in magnitudes when the quantitative data were fragmentary and uncertain, building the bricks of economic history out of straws in the wind. At the same time he helped to revolutionise governmental use of statistics for current policy by encouraging the estimation of economic aggregates, recognising that the pitfalls of such estimations were much the same as those involved in piecing together the statistical fragments of past centuries.

Suggested Citation

  • Alec Cairncross, 1988. "The Development of Economic Statistics as an Influence on Theory and Policy," Palgrave Macmillan Books, in: Duncan Ironmonger & J. O. N. Perkins & Tran Hoa (ed.), National Income and Economic Progress, chapter 1, pages 11-20, Palgrave Macmillan.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:palchp:978-1-349-19340-0_2
    DOI: 10.1007/978-1-349-19340-0_2
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    Cited by:

    1. Suzuki, Tomo, 2003. "The accounting figuration of business statistics as a foundation for the spread of economic ideas," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(1), pages 65-95, January.
    2. Suzuki, Tomo, 2007. "Accountics: Impacts of internationally standardized accounting on the Japanese socio-economy," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(3), pages 263-301, April.
    3. Suzuki, Tomo, 2003. "The epistemology of macroeconomic reality: The Keynesian Revolution from an accounting point of view," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 28(5), pages 471-517, July.
    4. Suzuki, Tomo, 2007. "A history of Japanese accounting reforms as a microfoundation of the democratic socio-economy: Accountics Part II," Accounting, Organizations and Society, Elsevier, vol. 32(6), pages 543-575, August.

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