Research Article
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Year 2020, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 75 - 97, 08.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.33818/ier.747554

Abstract

References

  • Ayer, A. J. (2012). Language, truth and logic (Vol. 1). Retrieved March 11, 2020, from Courier Corporation: http://www.math.chalmers.se/~ulfp/Review/langtruthlogic.pdf.
  • Cassiers, I. and G. Thiry (2012). Alternative Indicators to GDP: Values behind Numbers. Adjusted Net Savings in Question. Applied Research in Quality of Life.
  • Castles, I. and D. Henderson (2005). International Comparisons of GDP: Issues of Theory and Practice. World Economics, 6(1), 55 – 66.
  • Easterlin, R. A. (1995). Will raising the incomes of all increase the happiness of all? Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 27 (1), 35-47.
  • Edvinsson, L. and C. Stenfel (1999). Intellectual capital of nations—for future wealth creation. Journal of Human Resource Costing & Accounting, 4 (1), 21-33.
  • Fraasen, B. C. (1980). The Scientific Image. Oxford University Press.
  • Gladwell, M. (2011). The Order of Things. The New Yorker, 87 (1), 68-75.
  • Hamilton, K., G. Ruta, K. Bolt, A. Markandya, S. Pedroso-Galinato, P. Silva, . . . L. Tajibaeva (2006). Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century. World Bank. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7505.
  • Hands, D. (2007). The Future of Economics. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://ssrn.com/abstract=1076818 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1076818.
  • Hicks, J. R. (1940). The Valuation of the Social Income. Economica, 7 (26), 105-12.
  • Huff, D. (1993). How to Lie with Statistics. W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
  • Hunt, E. and W. Wittmann (2008). National intelligence and national prosperity. Intelligence, 36 (1), 1-9.
  • Kelvin, L. (1889). Electrical Units of Measurement. In W. Thomson, Popular Lectures and Addresses (Vol. 1, pp. 73-136). Cambridge University Press.
  • Keynes, J. M. (1936). Chapter 24. In The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (p. 383). Palgrave Macmillan. Lynn, R., T. Vanhanen and M. Stuart (2002). IQ and the wealth of nations. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  • Manuelli, R. E. and A. Seshadri (2014). Human capital and the wealth of nations. American economic review, 104 (9), 2736-62.
  • Nitzan, J., and S. Bichler (2009). Capitalization: Fiction, mirror or distortion? In Capital as Power: A study of order and creorder (pp. 167-182). Routledge.
  • Piketty, T., S. Emmanuel and G. Zucman. (2018). Distributional national accounts: methods and estimates for the United States. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 133 (2), 553-609.
  • Polanyi, K. (1944). The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Times. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://inctpped.ie.ufrj.br/spiderweb/pdf_4/ Great_Transformation.pdf.
  • Putnam, H. (2002). The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays. Harvard University Press.
  • Reuben, J. A. (1996). The Making of the Modern University: Intellectual Transformation and the Marginalization of Morality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Ruiz, V. R., J. L. Navarro and D. N. Peña (2011). Relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and hidden wealth over the period 2000-2008: An international study. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 9 (3), 259-270.
  • Smith, A. (1776). An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations (The Glasgow edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith ed., Vol. 2). (R. Campbell, A. S. Skinner, and W. B. Todd, Eds.) New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.ibiblio.org/ml/libri/s/SmithA_WealthNations_p.pdf.
  • Smith, J. (2012). The GDP Illusion: Value added versus value capture. Monthly Review, 64 (3), 86-102.
  • Stiglitz, J. E., A. Sen and J.-P. Fitoussi (2010). Mismeasuring Our Lives: Why GDP Doesn't Add Up. New York: The New Press. Retrieved from http://www.stiglitzsen-fitoussi.fr/en/index.htm. Tawney, R. H. (1926). Religion and the Rise of Capitalism. London: John Murray.
  • WDI. (2015). World Development Indicators. Retrieved from Worldbank: https://databank. worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators. Zaman, A. (2012). Methodological Mistakes and Econometric Consequences. International Econometric Review, 4 (2), 99-122.
  • Zaman, A. (2013). Summary of the Great Transformation by Polanyi. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2013/08/28 /summary-of-the-great-transformation-by-polanyi/. Zaman, A. (2015). Deification of science and its disastrous. International Journal for Pluralism in Economics Education, 6 (2), 181-197.
  • Zaman, A. (2018). The Coca-Cola Theory of Happiness. Retrieved from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/the-coca-cola-theory-of-happiness/. Zaman, A. (2019). Kelvin’s Blunder: Measure Everything. Retrieved from An Islamic WorldView: https://azprojects.wordpress.com/2019/08/13/kelvins-blunder-measure-eve rything/. Zaman, A. (2019). The Emergence of Logical Positivism. Retrieved from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2019/05/11/the-emergence-of-logical-positivism/. Zaman, A. and F. Rahim (2009). Corruption: Measuring Unmeasurable. Humanomics, 25 (2), 117-126.

Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics

Year 2020, Volume: 12 Issue: 1, 75 - 97, 08.06.2020
https://doi.org/10.33818/ier.747554

Abstract

Philosophy of current knowledge distinguishes facts from values. It maintains that facts are objective, indisputable, universally verifiable and do not require to persuade. Since rhetoric is persuasion it is assumed to be deceptive and overlook reality. Therefore, statistics in its current form disregards rhetoric and emphasizes only numbers. It ignores meanings and interpretation of numbers that involve subjectivity and value judgements. In real world, numbers and values are entangled in a way that it becomes impossible to avoid subjectivity. So, it is used with an appearance of objectivity. We illustrate how apparently objective statistics conceal subjective choices. Most of real-world experiences cannot be reduced to numbers, but scientific approach compels us to measure everything. In the attempt to measure the unmeasurables like trust, intelligence and wealth etc.it is inevitable make subjective choices. There is no objective way to reduce multiple measures into one. In the field of economics values are involved even in seemingly indisputable numbers like GDP. It is value laden for the choice of factors, weights and their signs. Making comparisons on such measures without awareness have harmful implications for policy development. Moreover, it is also desirable to understand hidden values to avoid deception.

References

  • Ayer, A. J. (2012). Language, truth and logic (Vol. 1). Retrieved March 11, 2020, from Courier Corporation: http://www.math.chalmers.se/~ulfp/Review/langtruthlogic.pdf.
  • Cassiers, I. and G. Thiry (2012). Alternative Indicators to GDP: Values behind Numbers. Adjusted Net Savings in Question. Applied Research in Quality of Life.
  • Castles, I. and D. Henderson (2005). International Comparisons of GDP: Issues of Theory and Practice. World Economics, 6(1), 55 – 66.
  • Easterlin, R. A. (1995). Will raising the incomes of all increase the happiness of all? Journal of Economic Behavior and Organization, 27 (1), 35-47.
  • Edvinsson, L. and C. Stenfel (1999). Intellectual capital of nations—for future wealth creation. Journal of Human Resource Costing & Accounting, 4 (1), 21-33.
  • Fraasen, B. C. (1980). The Scientific Image. Oxford University Press.
  • Gladwell, M. (2011). The Order of Things. The New Yorker, 87 (1), 68-75.
  • Hamilton, K., G. Ruta, K. Bolt, A. Markandya, S. Pedroso-Galinato, P. Silva, . . . L. Tajibaeva (2006). Where is the Wealth of Nations? Measuring Capital for the 21st Century. World Bank. Retrieved from http://hdl.handle.net/10986/7505.
  • Hands, D. (2007). The Future of Economics. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://ssrn.com/abstract=1076818 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1076818.
  • Hicks, J. R. (1940). The Valuation of the Social Income. Economica, 7 (26), 105-12.
  • Huff, D. (1993). How to Lie with Statistics. W. W. Norton & Company Inc.
  • Hunt, E. and W. Wittmann (2008). National intelligence and national prosperity. Intelligence, 36 (1), 1-9.
  • Kelvin, L. (1889). Electrical Units of Measurement. In W. Thomson, Popular Lectures and Addresses (Vol. 1, pp. 73-136). Cambridge University Press.
  • Keynes, J. M. (1936). Chapter 24. In The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money (p. 383). Palgrave Macmillan. Lynn, R., T. Vanhanen and M. Stuart (2002). IQ and the wealth of nations. Greenwood Publishing Group.
  • Manuelli, R. E. and A. Seshadri (2014). Human capital and the wealth of nations. American economic review, 104 (9), 2736-62.
  • Nitzan, J., and S. Bichler (2009). Capitalization: Fiction, mirror or distortion? In Capital as Power: A study of order and creorder (pp. 167-182). Routledge.
  • Piketty, T., S. Emmanuel and G. Zucman. (2018). Distributional national accounts: methods and estimates for the United States. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 133 (2), 553-609.
  • Polanyi, K. (1944). The Great Transformation: The Political and Economic Origins of Our Times. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from https://inctpped.ie.ufrj.br/spiderweb/pdf_4/ Great_Transformation.pdf.
  • Putnam, H. (2002). The Collapse of the Fact/Value Dichotomy and Other Essays. Harvard University Press.
  • Reuben, J. A. (1996). The Making of the Modern University: Intellectual Transformation and the Marginalization of Morality. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.
  • Ruiz, V. R., J. L. Navarro and D. N. Peña (2011). Relationship between gross domestic product (GDP) and hidden wealth over the period 2000-2008: An international study. Electronic Journal of Knowledge Management, 9 (3), 259-270.
  • Smith, A. (1776). An inquiry into the nature and causes of the wealth of nations (The Glasgow edition of the Works and Correspondence of Adam Smith ed., Vol. 2). (R. Campbell, A. S. Skinner, and W. B. Todd, Eds.) New York: Oxford University Press. Retrieved from https://www.ibiblio.org/ml/libri/s/SmithA_WealthNations_p.pdf.
  • Smith, J. (2012). The GDP Illusion: Value added versus value capture. Monthly Review, 64 (3), 86-102.
  • Stiglitz, J. E., A. Sen and J.-P. Fitoussi (2010). Mismeasuring Our Lives: Why GDP Doesn't Add Up. New York: The New Press. Retrieved from http://www.stiglitzsen-fitoussi.fr/en/index.htm. Tawney, R. H. (1926). Religion and the Rise of Capitalism. London: John Murray.
  • WDI. (2015). World Development Indicators. Retrieved from Worldbank: https://databank. worldbank.org/source/world-development-indicators. Zaman, A. (2012). Methodological Mistakes and Econometric Consequences. International Econometric Review, 4 (2), 99-122.
  • Zaman, A. (2013). Summary of the Great Transformation by Polanyi. Retrieved March 11, 2020, from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2013/08/28 /summary-of-the-great-transformation-by-polanyi/. Zaman, A. (2015). Deification of science and its disastrous. International Journal for Pluralism in Economics Education, 6 (2), 181-197.
  • Zaman, A. (2018). The Coca-Cola Theory of Happiness. Retrieved from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2018/03/27/the-coca-cola-theory-of-happiness/. Zaman, A. (2019). Kelvin’s Blunder: Measure Everything. Retrieved from An Islamic WorldView: https://azprojects.wordpress.com/2019/08/13/kelvins-blunder-measure-eve rything/. Zaman, A. (2019). The Emergence of Logical Positivism. Retrieved from WEA Pedagogy Blog: https://weapedagogy.wordpress.com/2019/05/11/the-emergence-of-logical-positivism/. Zaman, A. and F. Rahim (2009). Corruption: Measuring Unmeasurable. Humanomics, 25 (2), 117-126.
There are 27 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Economics
Journal Section Articles
Authors

Sıdıka Başçı

Nadia Hassan This is me

Publication Date June 8, 2020
Submission Date June 3, 2020
Published in Issue Year 2020 Volume: 12 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Başçı, S., & Hassan, N. (2020). Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics. International Econometric Review, 12(1), 75-97. https://doi.org/10.33818/ier.747554
AMA Başçı S, Hassan N. Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics. IER. June 2020;12(1):75-97. doi:10.33818/ier.747554
Chicago Başçı, Sıdıka, and Nadia Hassan. “Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics”. International Econometric Review 12, no. 1 (June 2020): 75-97. https://doi.org/10.33818/ier.747554.
EndNote Başçı S, Hassan N (June 1, 2020) Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics. International Econometric Review 12 1 75–97.
IEEE S. Başçı and N. Hassan, “Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics”, IER, vol. 12, no. 1, pp. 75–97, 2020, doi: 10.33818/ier.747554.
ISNAD Başçı, Sıdıka - Hassan, Nadia. “Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics”. International Econometric Review 12/1 (June 2020), 75-97. https://doi.org/10.33818/ier.747554.
JAMA Başçı S, Hassan N. Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics. IER. 2020;12:75–97.
MLA Başçı, Sıdıka and Nadia Hassan. “Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics”. International Econometric Review, vol. 12, no. 1, 2020, pp. 75-97, doi:10.33818/ier.747554.
Vancouver Başçı S, Hassan N. Using Numbers to Persuade: Hidden Rhetoric of Statistics. IER. 2020;12(1):75-97.