Affiliations: [a] Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain | [b] Facultad Latinoamericana de Ciencias Sociales, Sede Chile, Ethiopia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Pilar Martín-Guzmán, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain. E-mail:maximoaguilera25@yahoo.com
Abstract: Several countries in the Latin American and Caribbean Region are
experiencing a spectacular economic growth. As a consequence, reliable
statistics are increasingly needed. In order to ensure the credibility of
official statistics governance has to be enhanced. This process has already started in the Region, and is being developed along
several lines. First a Code of Good Practices in Statistics for the ECLAC
Region, following the Fundamental Principles of United Nations and very much
in the line of the European Code has been implemented and adopted and, in
some countries, embodied into national Codes. As a consequence a number of
countries in the Region are now in the process of updating their legislation
on official statistics and adapting it to the principles of this Code.
Another line of development is a plan for assessing the compliance of the
current practices in the countries with the principles of the Code, and to
that end a series of peer reviews, as well as some monitoring on the
accomplishment of improvement actions, are being undertaken. This paper intends to present an overview of the current situation,
outlining the improvements already achieved and the main difficulties
encountered in the process, and commenting on some challenges still pending.
Keywords: Governance in official statistics, Code of Good Practices, credibility, institutional strengthening, quality
