1. Governance, Fraud, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
Ethical Codes for the Official Statistics: An International Perspective
Turgay ALTUN
4th International Conference on
Governance, Fraud, Ethics and Corporate Social Responsibility
April 6, 2012 – Alanya / TURKEY

2. SUMMARY INTRODUCTION INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE
UNITED NATIONS (UNECE / UNSC)
OECD
EU (EUROSTAT)
TURKISH STATISTICAL SYSTEM
CONCLUSION

3. INTRODUCTION Ethics can be defined briefly as; the guiding values
the principles
the standards
that help people determine how “things ought to be done”

4. (i.e. Accounting Ethics)
INTRODUCTION
ETHICS
(General Term)
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
(i.e. Accounting Ethics)
STATISTICAL ETHICS
(Our Point)

5. INTRODUCTION
Statistical data are of crucial importance for modern democratic societies.
Official statistics of high quality is indispensible for global economies.
In order to ensure the quality, NSIs should comply with internationally accepted quality standards and principles, in other words with ethical codes.

6. INTRODUCTION International and supranational organizations like,
International Statistical Institute (ISI)
United Nations (UNECE and UNSC)
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)
European Union (Eurostat)
have adopted ethical codes in the official statistics area so far.

7. INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE (ISI)
DECLARATION ON PROFESSIONAL ETHICS
Foundation of “Committee on a Code of Ethics for Statisticians” (1979).
Coming to an agreement for an ethical code (1981).
Declaration of Professional Ethics was adopted (1985).
The Declaration was revised (2010).

8. INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL INSTITUTE (ISI)
SHARED PROFESSIONAL VALUES
Respect
Professionalism
Truthfulness and Integrity
ETHICAL PRINCIPLES
Pursuing Objectivity
Exhibiting Professional Competence
Clarifying Obligations and Roles
Maintaining Confidence in Statistics
Assessing Alternatives Impartially
Exposing and Reviewing Methods
and Findings
Conflicting Interests
Communicating Ethical Principles
Avoiding Preempted Outcomes
Bearing Responsibility for the
Integrity of the Discipline
Guarding Privileged Information
Protecting the Interests of Subjects

9. UNITED NATIONS (UNECE / UNSC)
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Adopted by UNECE for the UNECE Region (1992).
Decision of the UNSC for global implementation of the Principles (1994).
A milestone in the codification of an ethical code in official statistics area.
The Document is comprised of ten principles.

10. UNITED NATIONS (UNECE / UNSC)
FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS
Relevance, Impartiality and
Equal Access
Confidentiality
Professional Standards and Ethics
Legislation
Accountability and Transparency
National Coordination
Prevention of Misuse
Use of International Standards
Sources of Official Statistics
International Cooperation

11. ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
QUALITY FRAMEWORK AND GUIDELINES
FOR OECD STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES
Adopted in 2003.
Updated recently in January 2012.
OECD views quality in terms of seven dimensions:

12. ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT (OECD)
QUALITY FRAMEWORK AND GUIDELINES FOR OECD STATISTICAL ACTIVITIES
Relevance
Accuracy
Credibility
Timeliness
Accessibility
Interpretability
Coherence

13. EU (EUROSTAT)
Eurostat is the abbreviation of the “Statistical Office of the European Communities”.
Established in 1953 in order to meet the requirements of the Coal and Steel Community.
Became a Directorate-General of European Commission in 1958.
Located in Luxembourg.

14. EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
EU (EUROSTAT)
EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
Adopted by Statistical Programme Committee as a Recommendation in 2005.
Binding in 2009 after Regulation (EC) No 223/2009.
Revised in 2011 by ESSC (EU Financial Crisis)
Issues related to the principles of
Quality Commitment
Professional Independence
has been further enhanced.

15. EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
EU (EUROSTAT)
EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
In the revised CoP;
3 headings
15 principles
82 indicators
The headings and principles of the CoP are;

16. Statistical Procedures
EU (EUROSTAT)
INSTITUTIONAL
ENVİRONMENT
STATISTICAL
PROCESSES
OUTPUTS
1. Professional
Independence
7. Sound
Methodology
11. Relevance
2. Mandate for
Data Collection
8. Appropriate
Statistical Procedures
12. Accuracy and
Reliability
3. Adequacy of
Resources
9. Non-Excessive Burden
on Respondents
13. Timeliness and
Punctuality
4. Quality
Commitment
10. Cost
Effectiveness
14. Coherence and
Comparability
5. Statistical
Confidentiality
15. Accessibility and
Clarity
6. Impartiality and
Objectivity

17. EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
EU (EUROSTAT)
EUROPEAN STATISTICS CODE OF PRACTICE
Monitoring: Peer Review Exercises
EU & EFTA Member States:
Candidate and Pot. Candidate Countries:
Evaluation of Statistical Systems within the context of Principles 1-6 and 15 of the CoP.
Fully Met
Largely Met
Partly Met
Not Met

18. Statistical Procedures
EU (EUROSTAT)
INSTITUTIONAL
ENVİRONMENT
STATISTICAL
PROCESSES
OUTPUTS
1. Professional
Independence
7. Sound
Methodology
11. Relevance
2. Mandate for
Data Collection
8. Appropriate
Statistical Procedures
12. Accuracy and
Reliability
3. Adequacy of
Resources
9. Non-Excessive Burden
on Respondents
13. Timeliness and
Punctuality
4. Quality
Commitment
10. Cost
Effectiveness
14. Coherence and
Comparability
5. Statistical
Confidentiality
15. Accessibility and
Clarity
6. Impartiality and
Objectivity

19. According to the Peer Review Reports of the 27 MSs
EU (EUROSTAT)
According to the Peer Review Reports of the 27 MSs
Number of Instances
(Indicator x Country)
Percentage
Fully Met
605
64 %
Largely Met
221
23 %
Partly Met
110
12 %
Not Met 9
1 %

20. EU (EUROSTAT)

21. TURKISH STATISTICAL SYSTEM
PRINCIPLES
SOURCE
Statistical Confidentiality - Protection of Individual Data
Turkish Statistics Law
Reduction of Respondent Burden
 Strategic Plan
Accuracy
Up-to-Dateness
Reliability
Comparability
 Official Statistics Prg.

22. TURKISH STATISTICAL SYSTEM
PRINCIPLES
SOURCE
Easy and Equal Access
Turkish Statistics Law
User Orientedness
 Strategic Plan
Official Statistics Prg.
Clarity and Transparency
Impartiality
Data Security
Timeliness
Strategic Plan

23. TURKISH STATISTICAL SYSTEM
Peer Review for Turkish Statistical System was carried out on May 24-27, 2011.
Peer Review Team was comprised of 2 independent experts and 2 Eurostat staff.
The Team made meetings not only with TurkStat representatives, but also academicians, civil society representatives, researchers, staff from other statistical providers, etc. Regarding Turkish Statistical System and TurkStat’s coordination role in the System.

24. CONCLUSION
Statistical data with high quality is significant for democratic countries governed by the rule of law.
Well accepted standards and principles are in place so as to ensure the quality of official statistics.
Monitoring activities of these principles are carried out in order to evaluate the compliance of the national statistical systems.

25. CONCLUSION
Economic crises proved the importance of high quality and independent official statistics.
Finally, Turkish Statistical System is based on well-accepted ethical principles in international level.
The most significant feature is the adoption of most of these principles directly in primary law, in Turkish Statistics Law.

26. “Don’t lie to me, Argentina”, Economist, Feb. 25, 2012
CONCLUSION
“Don’t lie to me, Argentina”, Economist, Feb. 25, 2012

27. THANK YOU