In Lewis Carroll’s classic work, the Queen of Hearts famously demanded, “Off with their heads!”
Increasingly government leaders worldwide are following suit by removing the heads of their country’s statistical offices who report unwelcome, inconvenient data on levels and trends truthfully.
The latest example is President Trump’s recent firing of the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics is the country’s official scorekeeper of labor market activity, employment, job growth, unemployment, wages, compensation, working conditions, productivity and price movements in the U.S. economy. Why did the president fire Erika McEntarfer, the leading official at an agency known for its rigorous and objective analyses? Because she factually reported revised statistics on weaker-than-expected employment data.
The president claimed the numbers were phony and a part of a conspiracy to make him and congressional Republicans look bad.
While many economists found the statistics reported to be entirely credible and consistent with other evidence of a slowdown in the U.S. economy, the president falsely accused McEntarfer of having deliberately “rigged” the employment data in favor of the Democrats.
Trump’s actions model those of government officials throughout the world — and throughout history — who fired statisticians for doing their jobs.
In 2022, Turkey’s president Erdoğan fired the head of the country’s national statistics institute. Again, the reason for the official’s removal was because Turkey’s economic statistics agency released an unpleasant report documenting the country’s soaring inflation rate.
In 2018, the government leader of South Korea dismissed the commissioner of statistics. The unusual and sudden political reaction is believed to be related to unfavorable economic reports on household income and employment that put the administration’s income-led growth strategy in a negative light.
In 2016, the chief of China’s National Bureau of Statistics was removed from his position. The firing is believed to be related to concerns about the transparency and reliability of Chinese economic data.
In 2010, the head of Greece’s statistical agency was fired and prosecuted for their insistence on reporting accurate budget deficit figures.
In 2007, the president of Argentina fired members of the country’s national statistical agency because they reported economic figures that did not align with the president’s desired narrative that systematically understated the country’s inflation.
In 1937, Joseph Stalin arrested and executed a Soviet Union census official. The reason for his arrest, along with several other senior statisticians, was that the population census count revealed a significantly lower figure than Stalin had publicly announced.
Too many government leaders, instead of addressing the vital issues reported by statisticians, blame or punish them for delivering unwelcome news. On top of that, to deal with accurate but undesirable information, they may issue false data and release erroneous reports aimed at enhancing their political standing.
According to the International Statistical Institute, there are 242 national statistical offices worldwide. These offices are the foundation of a country’s information infrastructure, providing essential statistical data necessary for effective governance, national development and an informed citizenry.
These nonpartisan entities ensure the integrity of the statistical collection and compilation process by adhering to recognized scientific methods, professional ethics and established standards. Unbiased data is crucial for policymaking and democracy.
Dismissing the heads of national statistical offices raises significant concerns regarding the independence, integrity and credibility of official government data, politicizing agencies that should remain nonpartisan and reliable.
Targeting statisticians for honestly and objectively performing their duties is illogical. It not only hinders the government’s ability to assess reality and govern effectively, but it also diminishes public trust in government statements and decisions, fostering skepticism and rejection.
In essence, the “Off with their heads!” treatment towards statisticians should be rejected by presidents and government leaders, as it aligns more with the tyrannical and impulsive nature of the ruler of Wonderland.
It is crucial for congresses, parliaments, courts, the media and especially the public to strongly oppose these types of decisions.
Joseph Chamie is a consulting demographer, a former director of the United Nations Population Division, and author of many publications on population issues, including his recent book, “Population Levels, Trends, and Differentials”.
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