Would You Employ an Accountant Who Couldn’t Add Up?
One of the stories today is that the Nulabor government cocked up the rate of inflation, which meant that pensioners were underpaid to the collective tune of £80billion.
There is no excuse and mistakes like this by governments of all colours and competences are woven into the rich tapestry of history. Years ago, a colleague left to work for the Department of Trade and calculate the trade statistics. A few years later there was a serious mistake. I don’t think it was his fault, but because he worked there, we spotted it and had a bit of fun at his expense.
Whoever said, that there are lies, “damned lies and statistics” was right. Latest thinking says it was Charles Wentworth Dilke and not Mark Twain or Benjamin Disraeli. Although the phrase should probably be “lies, damned lies and government statistics”
The Anonymous Widower 
I seem to spend a lot of time explaining the people the difference between correlation and causation when it comes to statistics. On the whole, the general public havent a clue about statistics, whether are being correctly used or not.
Comment by liz | February 19, 2011 |