Page 295 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 2

STS496 Mario P.R.

INEGI’s statistical autonomy: Institutional
governance and some ever-present risks
Mario Palma Rojo
1
Mexican National Institute of Statistics and Geography, Mexico City, Mexico

Abstract
Mexico’s National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI) is one of the
few National Statistical Offices (NSOs) in the world that have been granted
legal autonomy, and probably the only one that has it written in the country’s
constitution. In 2008 a legal institutional framework was set up to provide
INEGI independence from all branches of government, as well as a
coordinating role in the overall production of official statistics in the country.
This existing regulation is characterized by establishing various legal and
administrative provisions that help to safeguard the professional
independence of the Institute -e.g. technical and managerial autonomy, own
patrimony (resources), appointment of high officials only after agreement of
both the legislative and executive powers, etc. The guaranteed publication of
data on sensitive subjects that may in some instances contradict government
claims, such as figures on national accounts and on victimization rates, are
examples of the soundness of the institutional framework that regulates and
protects INEGI’s work. The case of Mexico allows to reflect on the benefits of
granting autonomy to NSOs, but also on the ever-present risks of political
interference that may threat their professional independence and integrity.

Keywords
Professional Independence; Statistical Autonomy; Mexico; INEGI.

1. Introduction
All over the world, NSOs have made important advancements in the
provision of official statistics to society. Just to cite an example, via the survey
sampling foundation NSOs have been able to produce with confidence
statistical data in a varied array of subjects -many of them sensitive and
complex to measure-, to compare them with other sources of information -
such as administrative records- and to integrate time series -which has allowed
for the monitoring and evaluation of policies and development. Today most
societies depend on economic, social, demographic and environmental data
that usually comes from NSOs.

1 This paper was prepared in collaboration with Victoria Bonilla Veliz (Advisers Office, INEGI).
The opinions expressed and arguments employed herein are solely those of the authors and do
not necessarily reflect the official views of INEGI.
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