Where are the boundaries of official statistics? Armenia case study

Abstract

Given the increasing impact that globalization has on modern societies, today more than ever there is a need for comprehensive and targeted information about all kinds of economic, social, environmental and other aspects that shape our daily lives. This is where official statistics as a genuine information source for political decision makers and society as a whole come into play. Nevertheless, Official Statistics are rarely produced exclusively by the National Statistical Office; it often comprises other producers whose number depends on how centralized or decentralized a National Statistical System is. Hence, one central question is how a National Statistical System can be coordinated. Where are the lines that separate Official Statistics from other providers of information and who is coordinating it?

The boundaries of official statistics are often specified by the Generic Law on Official Statistics developed jointly by the UNECE Statistics Division, UN Statistics Division, EFTA, Eurostat and experts from several countries. This paper presents legal, organizational and coordinational aspects of the National Statistical System (NSS) in Armenia. It focuses on how Armstat, the National Statistical Office of Armenia fulfills its coordination role in the NSS while also shedding some light on the bodies of statistical governance in the Republic of Armenia.