G.Senatskaya

VIEMS, Moscow, Russia

Unauthenticity of Statistics in Research of Mineral Raw Material Complex as a Geoethical Problem

Leaving aside theoretical bases of statistics as a field of knowledge, let us go into details of its application component, which includes collection, processing and publication of mass data on phenomena and processes in social life. So the scope of our investigation is statistics as an instrument for research of social-and-economical processes.

Research in the sphere of mineral raw material complex, especially mineral raw material production, export and import, mineral commodity prices, social indices, etc., has revealed that it's not unusual for certain indices of the statistical data in this branch of statistics to be incomplete. We can often find data omitted in (dynamic) time series or incorrect substitution of indices when adjacent years are characterized with qualitatively different values, which makes their comparison impossible to carry out.

There are several reasons of such an unauthenticity. First of all, it is due to established methodology, which envisages constant changes of rubrics, notions, terms and qualitative filling of indices. Dominance of the subjective factor over the objective one, mentality of the officials, etc. should also be mentioned among these reasons.

For example, commercial production is reported in gross terms, i.e. it includes products consumed for operational needs at a particular enterprise. At the same time this enterprise's production in value terms is calculated excluding the value of the products consumed for the operational needs of the enterprise. Obviously, it's impossible to compare such data. Hence, considering the absence of sound legislative base in Russia, there are numerous loopholes in the law. That's why human factor takes on special significance.

As a result of unauthentic statistics application, it's impossible to estimate the situation correctly, provide objective scientific analysis and come to a correct decision. In order to make a decision, an expert researcher should be confident that the initial information is true and the set of instruments, which he uses, is irreproachable.

The geoethical solution of this problem is seen in development of statistics methodology based on the principles of independence from political impacts. Methods of information collection and processing should be objective and industry top managers should display civic courage to overcome any pressure from authorities of different levels. It's important to elaborate the principles of feedback between the model developers and statistic production users. It's also necessary to introduce the issue of statistics ethical problems into statistics educational process. A special code of vocational ethics should be elaborated for public employees.