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More Information:
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Measuring the Progress of Societies:
Towards the second OECD World Forum on Statistics,
Knowledge and Policy
Presentations:
Enrico Giovannini
OECD Chief Statistician and Director of the Statistics Directorate
Chris Hoenig
Vice-President of Strategy, Global Businesses Services, IBM Chairman,
Executive Group, Key National Indicators Initiative
Discussant:
Katherine K. Wallman
Chief Statistician, US Office of Management and Budget |
The event took place on Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Capitol Hill Club, McKinley Room
300 First Street SE, Washington DC 20036
9:00-10:00 AM Presentation, 8:30 AM Registration
Event Description:
In an age of unprecedented information flows, the common understanding necessary for informed public discourse is often inadequate. The availability of comprehensive, high quality, shared, accessible information about how a society is doing is crucial to ensure that decision-making is simultaneously responsive and responsible. Moreover, while policy-makers are increasingly using detailed data sets to inform their decision making, it is still too often the case that decisions are not evidence-based, or, when they are, the statistical evidence that underpins them is misunderstood.
The OECD Global Project "Measuring the Progress of Societies" is a co-ordinated world wide attempt to study and improve the nexus between statistics and policy-making. The project began in 2004, with a first World Forum in Palermo. The focus in Palermo was on key indicators. Work is now underway towards a second World Forum (Istanbul, 27-30 June 2007), the focus of which will be "Measuring and Fostering the Progress of Societies.”
The project is gathering momentum across the OECD, and around the world. It is being run in co-operation with the European Commission, the International Statistical Institute, the Organisation of the Islamic Conference, the United Nations and the World Bank. It also has close links with national initiatives such as the Key National Indicators Initiative in the United States. Regional pre-conferences are helping to engage countries outside of the OECD. Pre-conferences were held, or being held, in Latin America (Colombia, 12-13 October 2006), Africa (Rwanda, 14 January 2007), Asia (Korea, 8-9 February 2007), Russia (16-17 April 2007) and Middle-East (Yemen, 19 April 2007).
The project has a broad base and pays attention to three key aspects of indicator-work. Development of indicator sets: how have indicator sets been developed around the world? What technical and political challenges were faced and how were they overcome? Dissemination of indicators to the public and policy makers: how can ICT in particular be used to help ensure that indicator sets reach - and have an impact on - the chosen audience? Decisions: Evaluation of how indicators make a difference in decision-making. How are indicators used by policy-makers, civil society, or the general public for their decision-making?
Mr. Giovannini will present the characteristics of the OECD project and the results achieved so far. After this presentation, Mr. Chris Hoenig, Vice-President of Strategy, Global Business Services, IBM and Chairman, Executive Group, The Key National Indicators Initiative will highlight the main aims of the US Key National Indicators Initiative and Ms. Katherine K. Wallman (Chief Statistician, US Office of Management and Budget) will provide her comments and introduce the debate.
Biographies:
Enrico Giovannini has served as the Director of the Statistics Directorate and Chief Statistician of the OECD since 2001. Mr. Giovannini has published and edited widely on applied econometrics, statistical analysis and national accounts. He is an economist and Full Professor of economic statistics at the University of Rome “Tor Vergata.” Under his leadership, in 2001 the OECD launched a new statistical strategy and reinforced its role in the international market of statistical information. He currently serves on several committees of the United Nations, European Union and other international organizations. Prior to joining the OECD, Mr. Giovannini was the Central Director for Economic Statistics on business and institutions at the Italian Statistical Institute (ISTAT). He has also been a consultant on economic and econometric issues for the Ministry of Treasury and for the Italian Industrial Confederation, and is a member of a number of Italian and international committees. Mr. Giovannini holds a degree in Economics from the University of Rome “La Sapienza.”
Chris Hoenig is a Partner and Vice-President of Strategy for IBM Global Business Services with worldwide responsibilities. He is leading efforts to advance the institution’s profile and capability as a trusted partner for governments, business, and civil society around the world in identifying and helping to solve their most challenging issues. Mr. Hoenig’s formal educational background includes degrees in History from Yale University (B.A. 1976-80), and in International Politics and Economics from Cambridge University (M.Phil., 1983-4) and the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (M.A.L.D., 1984-86). In between his undergraduate and graduate studies, he founded in Western Europe his first multi-million dollar company, Transpotel B.V. and its subsidiary, Transpotel International. Following graduate study, he joined McKinsey & Co., a leading management consulting firm where he worked on larger-scale problems of major corporations. After five years at McKinsey, Hoenig moved into public service to tackle the issues encountered by the world’s largest and most complex organization, the U.S. federal government. After his work in the Senate, he served as Director of Information Management and Technology Issues at Congress’ research and investigative arm, the GAO, under Charles Bowsher, the Comptroller General of the U.S. Moving into public service again, Mr. Hoenig later served as Managing Director - Strategic Issues for the GAO. He was responsible to the Comptroller General of the U.S., for defining and addressing issues involving how the federal government and American democracy evolve to face 21st century challenges. This led to a global leadership role in working with the OECD to create a worldwide community of practice in developing national indicator systems. After leaving the GAO, he became the lead Executive for the US effort The Key National Indicators Initiative (KNII), governed under the auspices of the National Academies.
Katherine K. Wallman currently serves as Chief Statistician at the United States Office of Management and Budget. In this capacity, she provides policy oversight, establishes priorities, advances long-term improvements, and sets standards for a Federal statistical establishment that comprises more than 70 agencies spread across every cabinet department and accounts for more than $5 billion in annual expenditures. As the Chief Statistician of the United States, Ms. Wallman represents the US Government in international statistical organizations, including the United Nations and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. During her tenure as the United States’ Chief Statistician, Ms. Wallman has increased collaboration among the agencies of the US statistical system, fostered improvements in the scope and quality of the Nation’s official statistics, strengthened the protections for confidential statistical information, and initiated changes that have made the products of the system more accessible and usable. Prior to assuming the position of Chief Statistician in 1992, Ms. Wallman served for more than a decade as Executive Director of the Council of Professional Associations on Federal Statistics, a coalition of organizations concerned with fostering communication among users and producers of Federal statistics and improving the utility and accessibility of the Nation's statistical resources. Earlier in her career, Ms. Wallman worked for several years in the Office of Federal Statistical Policy and Standards, as well as in the National Center for Education Statistics. Her special interests include increasing cooperation between the several levels of government in the production of national statistics, strengthening the interface between academic and government statisticians, and enhancing the statistical literacy of the public.
For more information, please contact Susan Fridy,
OECD Washington Center, 202-822-3869
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