Criticising the data for 2888

Data criticism

1/ Check to see the source of the data and when the data was published, you might be able to criticise it for being out of date, or perhaps for being incomplete (you might be able to suggest extra data that would give you a firmer basis for making reasoned conclusions).

2/ You are most likely to find a degree of bias within the written extracts even when the information appears to come from official sources.

3/ Don’t leave all of the data criticism to the end, it is best to spread it through your answer and integrate it into each section.

Data sources / reliability / bias

OECD: International economics organisation providing reliable data
IMF: Likewise – check to see whether the info is up to date or partial
Euro Stat: Official EU stats agency bound by law to provide accurate data
European Commission: Harder to judge, some statements from EU Commissioners will contain the “official EU view” on certain policy issues, e.g. you would expect the EU Commissioner for Enlargement to be (broadly speaking) in favour of continued enlargement of the EU

Economist: Opposed to tax harmonisation
Critical of the performance of the European Central Bank
Generally critical of the single European currency
Favour tax reductions / liberalisation of trade between countries
Suspicious of most government intervention (neo-liberal)

Migration-Watch Right wing group opposed to free flowing labour migration
Telegraph: Euro sceptic, opposed to UK joining Euro / tax harmonisation
Bruges Group Anti-EU pressure group, wants UK to leave the EU
The Times Euro sceptic especially on further integration / pushing for structural reforms to the European economy
Britain in Europe: Pro EU integration pressure group
Guardian /Observer Centre left, pro Europe normally, believes in active government intervention, but strongly in favour of reforms, especially to the CAP and to EU trade policies with developing countries

Adapted from here