Page 248 - Invited Paper Session (IPS) - Volume 2

IPS236 Eva L.

Influence of the digital era and globalization on
the functioning of national statistical societies –
Hungarian experiences
Eva Laczka, PhD
Hungarian Statistical Association, president

Abstract
The aim, mission of national statistical societies is to help the theoretical,
practical development of statistics, create a forum to discuss theoretical and
practical issues of statistics, take a stand on statistical methodological
questions, inform about current statistical issues of public interest.
The goals of the national statistical societies that have emerged since the first
half of the nineteenth century were quite similar, they are in many respect
perennial goals. Economic, social processes, the development of sciences and
technology have continuously changed over the decades, and have influenced
the functioning of statistics and national statistical societies. The decade, the
years after the turn of the millennium have brought changes more significant
than ever. Information society, the new communication channels, the modern
IT and telecommunication systems have created situations, new phenomena
not known earlier in the contacts between people. Nowadays one of the
greatest challenges for statisticians is the observation of the new phenomena,
processes of our globalising world, the correct interpretation of integrated
processes. Besides observing the new phenomena, statistics has the possibility
to apply new methodologies, technology, technical tools, nowadays the use
of new methods and technologies has become a key necessity. The new
phenomena, the new requirements have influence on the scope of the
statistical fields to be observed, the “new definition” of statistics, statistical
methodology, the ways of communicating data strongly influence the issues
of statistical culture as well.
The lack of trust in statistics and statistical data gave birth to professional
ethics in statistics, the need to discuss ethical issues too. The above mentioned
factors affect official statistics, researchers and all the stakeholders engaged in
statistics, and they affect – particularly – national statistical societies. The
purpose of the paper is to evaluate to what extent the situation, the role of
national statistical societies differs from the situation and role of other actors
of statistics. What kind of tasks, “stronger prerogatives “could be attributed to
national and international statistical societies, international organisations
compared to official statistics and other stakeholders. What kind of
cooperation should be established between stakeholders in statistics
nowadays?

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