Page 242 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS224 Jorge T. et al.
At the time of its creation, and for several years, the Institute worked within
the scope of the Presidency, under the National Development Council
(CONADE, for its Spanish acronym), an institution created in accordance with
the developmentalist ideas of the time. It was the seedbed for the first INDEC
teams, even though the political changes did not encourage a connection
between official statistics and government policies.
In the 1990s, after several political changes in the Argentine National
Administration, INDEC began to operate under the Ministry of Economy or
Ministry of Treasury, depending on the subsequent names it was given.
This dependence was accompanied by the reinforcement of economic
statistics. Both national accounts and balance of payments, which until then
were the responsibility of the Central Bank, were placed under INDEC’s
responsibility.
Seen under a current perspective, although social statistics have had a
strong presence and continuity, there have not been strengthening actions in
this area on a systemic level. The Institute's pillar has always been the
continuous household survey, to which several other periodic sectoral surveys
have been added, in cooperation with other areas of government in fields such
as health risks, child labour and victimisation.
In a way, experience shows that the traditional dependence of the NSO to
economic areas of government may lead to an asymmetric view as regards the
current field range of official statistics.
We may take as an example the framework of well-being indicators
adopted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD) and fostered beyond the Organisation. Accordingly, several studies
have revealed the need to search for economic performance and social
progress indicators beyond the classic measurement of Gross Domestic
Product (GDP). This insight is reinforced by the fundamental principles of the
3
Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi Commission work. There are several other studies that
look into the possibilities opened by measurements that go beyond the GDP.
Based on INDEC's past and present administrative status, it can be said
that an NSO should operate under a body that encourages a broad view of
public policies, such as a Ministry of Planning, the Prime Minister's office or,
as would be the case in Argentina, the Chief of Cabinet of Ministers' office.
It is not only a matter of working under the scope of the Executive, but
also under a body where the NSO can establish a better connection with all
Government policymakers and actively participate, to channel the users'
interest when designing short or medium-term working programmes.
A brief account of the INDEC's institutional history follows.

3 See:
https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/documents/118025/118123/Fitoussi+Commission+report.
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