Cabinet Queries Statistics Division’s Methodology
The Antigua and Barbuda government has raised concerns over conflicting economic growth figures reported by different agencies, prompting discussions on data collection methods and calculations.
Chief of Staff in the Prime Minister’s Office, Lionel Hurst, said the Cabinet questioned the Statistics Division after it reported 3.6% growth, a figure significantly lower than the 7% cited by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) and other financial bodies.
“The Statistics Department reports a growth of 3.6%, which is half as large as the others are reporting,” Hurst said. “So there was an interest in how exactly they arrived at a figure that is so different from what is being published by these other measuring groups.”
During the Cabinet meeting, officials stressed the need for greater coordination between agencies responsible for economic assessments. Hurst noted that various departments, including the Ministry of Finance, track revenue and expenditure data, which influence national growth projections.
“There was an agreement that those who do the calculations should ensure that all the data they rely upon are shared with the Statistics Division so that there isn’t such a wide variation in the measurement,” he said.
While the Statistics Division operates independently, the government has encouraged further collaboration to align methodologies and ensure consistency in reporting.
“The idea is that those who measure growth should work together outside of the political directorate so that they can align their data inputs,” Hurst added.
Authorities say further discussions will be held to review differences in how economic performance is measured, with the aim of producing more uniform assessments in future reports.
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Statsistics only become questionable when they are not portraying things in your favor. Same thing like poling numbers.
So where did Eastern Caribbean Central Bank get their numbers from ?
I’d question their numbers first which seems unrealistic.
They ECCB are hardless the smartest people around.
When it comes to growth numbers, it seems like everyone’s playing a game of “guess who?” Hopefully, they’ll get their stories straight so we can figure out what’s really going on with our economy.
@Lin, that’s a valid point! If the ECCB’s numbers are so different from the Statistics Division’s, it’s worth looking into their sources as well. Finding out how each agency arrives at their figures will help us understand where the discrepancies come from and whether any adjustments need to be made for more accurate reporting.
Accuracy is key when it comes to statistics that affect public policy.
Hopefully, this will lead to more transparency and accountability in how data is collected and used.
I hope this leads to improvements and not just delays in the data we rely on for decision-making.
It is worthwhile to note that the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund have established policies and procedures in place as to how data is collected, and what data is used to arrive at their conclusions and projections. The statistical division would also have their methods too. Yes, the statistical division should also examine the variations to determine the reason for the disparity so that we all can understand facts instead of us speculating based on our political persuasion.