How Governments Manipulate Statistics Without Lying | Professor Is In
Summary
Justin Wolfers discusses the Commerce Department’s removal of rules banning political interference in official statistics, clarifying that this affects the Census Bureau and BEA but not yet the Bureau of Labor Statistics. He explains that data manipulation typically involves subtle methodological changes rather than outright lies, and advises listeners to distinguish between independent statistical agencies and political entities like the White House. Wolfers also offers guidance on identifying credible economic sources by evaluating their track record for truthfulness, warning that short-t…
Topics discussed
Sponsor: RingCentral AI Receptionist
Sponsor: MaintainX Preventative Maintenance
Intro: Commerce Dept Ban on Political Interference
Q&A: Can we trust recent jobs numbers?
How statistical manipulation actually works
Distinguishing rule changes from current data lies
Broader trust in administration data and voter fraud report
Sponsor: NerdWallet Smart Money Podcast
Incentives for future administrations to restore protections
Short-termism and the breakdown of governance
Rule of thumb: Distinguishing agencies from political bodies
Navigating acronyms: OMB vs CBO and White House sources
Evaluating experts and think tanks for integrity
Outro: Call to action and staying curious
Listen ad-free on Castria