Praise and Prescriptions for the
Federal Statistical System
Howard Silver, Executive Director of the Consortium of Social Science Associations
Adapted from an article that appeared in the May
issue of the Consortium of Social Science Associations’
newsletter, COSSA.
Orszag began the day with a discussion of “the
role of statistics and data in a science-driven admin-
istration.” He declared that high-quality, rigorous
science, along with data collection and its analysis,
should drive policy decisions. “Robust, unbiased
data are the first step toward addressing our long-
term economic needs and key policy priorities,”
Orszag asserted.
As the person in charge of the federal budget, he
also noted the small investment the United States
makes in the federal statistical system. Orszag pre-
sented a chart illustrating how funding for the prin-
cipal statistical agencies has declined by about 20%
Congressional Budget Office Director Peter Orszag
since 1980. At the same time, he pointed out that
testifies on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, on January
the data collected by these agencies drive monetary
22, 2008, before the Senate Finance Committee hearing
policy decisions, federal program allocations, and
on the economy.
federal program administration.
Photo courtesy of AP Photos/Susan Walsh
Orszag was quite cognizant of the role data
played in the development of the president’s fis-
cal year (FY) 2010 budget. He also mentioned the
“critical role” for data in the long-term projections
P
eter Orszag, director of the Office of for spending and revenue that accompanied the
Management and Budget (OMB), and John budget’s production. In addition, the use of “mea-
Holdren, President Barack Obama’s science surable outcomes” to determine what programs are
adviser and director of the White House Office of working became an important part of the adminis-
Science and Technology Policy (OSTP), offered tration’s budget decisions. At the same time, Orszag
praise and prescriptions for the social sciences and called for “the continuing need to innovate [and]
federal statistical system as the bookend speakers at refine data methods.”
a day-long symposium at the National Academies Focusing on education, Orszag noted the admin-
on May 8. istration’s investment in linking student achieve-
The symposium, “The Federal Statistical ment data to postsecondary and work information
System—Recognizing Its Contributions, Moving and the creation of state data systems. He also cited
It Forward,” featured the presidents of the three data that indicate the stalling in the increase of edu-
academies—Ralph Cicerone of Science, Charles cational attainment by Americans, which has led to
Vest of Engineering, and Harvey Feinberg of the the decline, according to Claudia Goldin and Larry
Institute of Medicine—discussing science’s stake Katz, in its importance for productivity growth.
in the statistical system. Cicerone, in particular, Developing improved measurements of teacher
touted research in the social sciences as important effectiveness is another challenge for the statistical
for the scientific agenda. system, according to Orszag.
10 AMSTAT NEWS JULY 2009
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