Economic and social statistics seem to be endowed with all virtues (objectivity, universality, scientificity) while being the subject of all criticisms (arbitrariness, manipulable, freely interpretable). How to explain this ambivalence ? Should we bring the figures back to their indisputable limits or save them in the name of the ideal of objectivity and their contribution to democratic debate ? Supporting examples, two researchers in social sciences and statisticians confront their points of view.
Debate organized and filmed by the mission “ Knowledge and culture »From Paris Descartes University, led by Martine Fournier (journalist at Human sciences), broadcast on The life of ideas with the authorization of the authors.