Professional independence and accountability of statistical agencies are crucial: A brief history of the Greek official statistics

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Michalopoulou, Catherine

Affiliations: Department of Social Policy, School of Political Sciences, Panteion University of Social and Political Sciences, 136 Syngrou Avenue, Athens 176 71, Greece. Tel.: +30 210 9201748; Fax: +30 210 9221222; E-mail: [email protected], ([email protected])

Abstract: This paper presents the evolution of the Greek statistical system and the journey towards the ``professional independence and accountability of statistical agencies'' which, according to the preamble of the resolution adopted by the United Nations General Assembly on the ten Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics, are imperative for ensuring public trust in the integrity of official statistical systems and confidence in official statistics. Also, the individual contribution of the United Nations experts for the establishment of the modernized statistical agency during the 1950s and 1960s is recorded and a brief history of the census is presented.

Keywords: Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics (FPOS), National Statistical Service of Greece (NSSG), United Nations Technical Assistance Program, census

DOI: 10.3233/SJI-150940

Journal: Statistical Journal of the IAOS, vol. 31, no. 4, pp. 507-512, 2015