"The Potential for National Statistics to Transform Social Policy"

The purpose of this article is to explain to policy-makers, and to social policy analysts and researchers, how the social statistics of the future have the potential to shed new light on the causes of social well-being, how that information could in turn help transform social programs and policies, and why partnerships will be essential to realize the full potential of the new statistical products. [...] that will be used), the processes used to analyse the vast amount of new data in ways that protect privacy, the Current stage of development new statistical products that need to be available, and Some of the features of the new system are already in place: the new uses of those data products, including direct • Statistics Canada has many linkable databases drawn uses by citizens. [...] • Data showing the effects of social programs and institutions on the subsequent lives of individuals can also be used in analysis of different dimensions of sustainability such as the causes of change in levels of human, financial and social capital. [...] Partnership will be Essential The proposed use of the statistical system to produce evidence about how social interventions affect quality of life is likely to result in a blurring of the mandates of the statistical office and of both program deliverers and the traditional analytic/research community. [...] The • However, the statistical office should also play an direct involvement of the statistical agency can ensure independent supporting role in the development of the the needed consistency and can assist in the efficient practical referral tools.