British Economic Statistics

Originally published in 1954, on behalf of the National Institute of Economic and Social Research, this book presents a general review of British economic statistics in relation to the uses made of them for policy purposes. The text begins with an examination, in general terms, of the ways in which statistics can help in guiding or assessing policy, covering housing, coal, the development areas, agricultural price-fixing, the balance of external payments and the balance of the economy. The problems of statistical application are then separately discussed under the headings of quality, presentation and availability, and organization. A full bibliography and reference table of principal British economic statistics are also included. This book will be of value to anyone with an interest in British economic history and statistics.List of tables; Preface; 1. Introduction; 2. Statistics and economic policy; 3. A summary of problems; Part I. Case-Studies in the Relation of Statistics to Policy: 4. Housing; 5. Coal; 6. The development areas; 7. Agricultural price fixing; 8. The balance of external payments; 9. The general balance of the economy; Part II. The Problems Revealed: 10. The quality of economic statistics; 11. The presentation and availability of statistics; 12. The organization of statistical intelligence; 13. Postscript; Bibliography; Reference table of principal British economic statistics and their sources; General index; Index of proposals and suggestions.