Page 306 - Special Topic Session (STS) - Volume 4

STS637 Magued O.

Statistics monopoly: No room for nostalgia.
Magued Osman
Professor of Statistics, Cairo University and Former Minister of Communications and
Information Technology, Cairo, Egypt

Abstract
Technological innovations are shaping the way businesses across the world
will operate in the future. Such changes will create a new world. With a strong
trend toward global economic integration, changes will not be confined to
developed countries and will impact developing countries as well. Disruptive
innovations are on the rise and are making paradigm shifts in many sectors
including manufacturing, finance, transportation, education, health,
agriculture, media and entertainment. The expected growing number of
robots, sensors, satellites and internet of things applications will generate a
volume of data beyond what statisticians can imagine. The traditional model
of bureau of statistics as the main producers of data statistics is no longer the
case. Monopoly by governmental organizations in producing and
disseminating data is vanishing. The large data sets, such as censuses and
household surveys, that was once a pride of statistical office are a small
fraction of data that are/can be generated every day by Google, Facebook,
Netflix, YouTube, or Amazon. A new model is suggested to re-engineer the
statistical system in developing countries to allow for an inclusive approach to
all players producing and using data and big data while respecting the
fundamental principles of official statistics. The model takes into consideration
the challenges facing the statistics discipline in the data science era and
address governance issues related to the production, analysis and
dissemination of big data without compromising professional considerations,
including scientific principles and professional ethics.

Keywords
Data science, big data divide, disruptive innovations, national statistical offices

1. Introduction
According to the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, official
statistics provide an indispensable element in the information system of a
democratic society, serving government, the economy and the public with
data about the economic, demographic, social and environmental situation.
Decision on the methods and procedures for the collection, processing,
storage and presentation of statistical data is determined according to strictly
professional considerations, including scientific principles and professional

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