NIESR to run new ONS economic statistics centre

The Centre will provide ONS with research that addresses the challenges of measuring the modern economy, as recommended by former Bank of England Deputy Governor Sir Charlie Bean in his recent Independent Review of UK Economic Statistics.

NIESR will run the Centre in partnership with King’s College London, innovation foundation Nesta, Warwick Business School, University of Cambridge and Strathclyde Business School.

Warwick Business School's Prof. James Mitchell, said an important aspect of ESCoE’s work will be "to help minimise the scope for misinterpretation in statistical releases, one of the problems highlighted in the Bean Review".

NIESR's Rebecca Riley, who will be the new Centre’s Director, added: “Our vision is ambitious, involving a cultural change in the delivery of economic statistics. The Centre provides an exciting opportunity for making significant inroads into developing and improving economic statistics.”

Prof. Richard Smith, University of Cambridge, who will be the Centre’s Academic Co-Director, commented: “I am delighted that ONS has decided to recognise NIESR in this fashion. I am looking forward to contributing to the establishment of ESCoE in partnership with ONS as an international focal point both for research and development of world-class economic statistics and for building intellectual capacity in economic statistics in the UK.”