The following article by Justin Wolfers was posted on the New York Times website December 8, 2017:
In public debates about economic policy, it can be hard to separate real insights from political posturing. But a few simple rules of thumb can help.
Start with information you can count on. Crucial economic statistics — like the unemployment rate, inflation or gross domestic product — are generally produced free of political influence.
Partly this is because statistical agencies are structured to minimize political interference. The actual numbers crunching is done by career professionals who prize their independence. Continue reading “An Economist Explains: How to Sort Facts From Fictions”