A statistical narrative: Australia, 1800–2010

Abstract

Introduction This chapter discusses the evolution of the main official statistical collections in the period 1800-2010 and shows how we can understand the evolution of the Australian economy using those statistics. The contribution of innovative official statisticians and scholars, together with understanding the inherent limitations of the data, are two important aspects of this discussion. Our intention is to apply a long-term, macroeconomic perspective to draw out insights that may not always be immediately evident from detailed scholarship in particular areas and time periods. We also suggest a number of areas for future research. What we cover To make this task manageable, we have narro..