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Abstract:
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Official statistics are a key professional and social resource in today’s world. Yet they are in a state of flux—with as many challenges as opportunities ahead. Challenges include falling response rates, funding, privacy, distrust, and cybersecurity. Opportunities include alternative data sources, computational power, visualizations, and hunger for evidence. Are official statistics poised to flourish or disappear—or change radically? How would that matter? As leaders of the statistical community and in our home organizations, we need to devote effort to looking over the horizon so that we can make the best choices today. So, let’s spend some time considering how potential outcomes for official statistics will profoundly affect the path of our society and profession—and how we can work together to help achieve a better future for us all.
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