Turkish statistics body under scrutiny
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Sevda Yüzbaşıoğlu - Referans
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Şubat 13, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - The ’miraculous’increase of activity in Turkey’s textile sector was due to a grave error by the Turkish Statistical Institute, or TÜİK, which finds itself surrounded by criticism.
The Turkish business world’s confidence in the country’s statistical institute is eroding, following this week’s faulty industrial production data announcement.
Early Monday morning, The Turkish Statistical Institute, or TÜİK, revealed the industrial production data for December and announced a "miraculous" 40 percent increase in the textile production. Shortly after, alerted by the editors of the business daily Referans, the institute revised its figures, and announced a new statement, which showed a 25.9 percent contraction in textile. The corrected figures revealed the biggest decline ever experienced in industrial production, since the beginning of the record keeping back in 1986.
The error should not be underestimated, urged representatives of the business world, adding that TÜİK should turn into an independent organization in order to regain trust.
It was shocking to hear about a 40 percent increase, said Aynur Bektaş, chairman of Hey Tekstil, one of Turkey's biggest ready wear exporters. "We were deeply surprised. December is the season of many holidays. At first I thought that might have caused the increase," she said "I also thought those in textile sector may have purchased fabric and stocked up in January. However, I still could not justify the 40 percent increase. How could TÜİK possibly do this? We have already lost our focus in the economy and now this. We feel extremely uneasy about the situation. "
Criticizing the attitude in elections, handouts and corruption, he said, "Erroneous figures add to the picture. The real sector already knows the truth. We already see openly the growth and contraction. However, it is crucial to be careful while announcing such official figures."
The erroneous figures will stir things up, said Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, chairman of Zorlu Holding. "I was surprised about the data as well. People keep their money, and behave cautiously. We should wait and see the figures next month then make an evaluation. Wrong figures cause frustration and generate discredit."
Meanwhile, head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, or TOBB, demanded that TÜİK become an independent organization, in a statement to daily Radikal. "The latest error has revealed that we should turn TÜİK into an independent organization with social partners in order for it to become convincing. Otherwise, these errors will cause TÜİK’s credibility to be questioned in the future," said Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Okan Oğuz, former chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, and the owner of Miro Tekstil, defined the incident as a scandal. "Still, we were pleased for a few hours," he said.
No need to go to extremes
The problem derived from a technical error, said Seyfettin Gürsel, academic and Referans columnist, adding that TÜİK should not be pressed too much. "Figures should not be turned into a divisive issue. Otherwise, we may lose the ground of discussion. That would be unfair to TÜİK. It is important not to go to extremes."
Noting that TÜİK has displayed noteworthy progress in the recent years, Gürsel said, "The institute is operating and harmonizing with the standards of the European Union (EU)."
Regarding some industrialists’ reaction that TÜİK does not consult them for some data, he said nowhere in the world consultancy is used as a method to gather statistics. "Polls are conducted. No consulting takes place. Polls have addressees, which TÜİK already announces."
Early Monday morning, The Turkish Statistical Institute, or TÜİK, revealed the industrial production data for December and announced a "miraculous" 40 percent increase in the textile production. Shortly after, alerted by the editors of the business daily Referans, the institute revised its figures, and announced a new statement, which showed a 25.9 percent contraction in textile. The corrected figures revealed the biggest decline ever experienced in industrial production, since the beginning of the record keeping back in 1986.
The error should not be underestimated, urged representatives of the business world, adding that TÜİK should turn into an independent organization in order to regain trust.
It was shocking to hear about a 40 percent increase, said Aynur Bektaş, chairman of Hey Tekstil, one of Turkey's biggest ready wear exporters. "We were deeply surprised. December is the season of many holidays. At first I thought that might have caused the increase," she said "I also thought those in textile sector may have purchased fabric and stocked up in January. However, I still could not justify the 40 percent increase. How could TÜİK possibly do this? We have already lost our focus in the economy and now this. We feel extremely uneasy about the situation. "
Criticizing the attitude in elections, handouts and corruption, he said, "Erroneous figures add to the picture. The real sector already knows the truth. We already see openly the growth and contraction. However, it is crucial to be careful while announcing such official figures."
The erroneous figures will stir things up, said Ahmet Nazif Zorlu, chairman of Zorlu Holding. "I was surprised about the data as well. People keep their money, and behave cautiously. We should wait and see the figures next month then make an evaluation. Wrong figures cause frustration and generate discredit."
Meanwhile, head of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, or TOBB, demanded that TÜİK become an independent organization, in a statement to daily Radikal. "The latest error has revealed that we should turn TÜİK into an independent organization with social partners in order for it to become convincing. Otherwise, these errors will cause TÜİK’s credibility to be questioned in the future," said Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Okan Oğuz, former chairman of the Turkish Exporters Assembly, and the owner of Miro Tekstil, defined the incident as a scandal. "Still, we were pleased for a few hours," he said.
No need to go to extremes
The problem derived from a technical error, said Seyfettin Gürsel, academic and Referans columnist, adding that TÜİK should not be pressed too much. "Figures should not be turned into a divisive issue. Otherwise, we may lose the ground of discussion. That would be unfair to TÜİK. It is important not to go to extremes."
Noting that TÜİK has displayed noteworthy progress in the recent years, Gürsel said, "The institute is operating and harmonizing with the standards of the European Union (EU)."
Regarding some industrialists’ reaction that TÜİK does not consult them for some data, he said nowhere in the world consultancy is used as a method to gather statistics. "Polls are conducted. No consulting takes place. Polls have addressees, which TÜİK already announces."