Federalism, decentralization, and the integrity of official statistics : comparative lessons from Argentina, Canada, Germany, India, Nigeria, Switzerland and the United States

Abstract

This paper examines how federalism and administrative decentralization shape the coherence, credibility, and timeliness of official statistics. Building on the premise that statistical quality is not only a technical attribute but also a political and institutional outcome, it explores how the organization of the state—centralized or decentralized—shapes the performance of national statistical systems (NSS). Using a comparative qualitative design, the study analyses seven federations representing diverse governance models: the Argentina, Canada, Germany, India, Nigeria, Switzerland and United States. Each case illustrates a distinct configuration of legal authority, coordination mechanisms, and professional culture within the production of official data. The findings suggest that decentralization does not inherently weaken statistical integrity; rather, the effectiveness of coordination institutions, harmonization standards, and professional independence determines the outcome. Cooperative federal models, such as Canada, Germany and Switzerland, sustain coherence through formal coordination and shared infrastructure. By contrast, systems where decentralization operates without adequate legal or fiscal support, such as Nigeria or Argentina, struggle with disjunction and credibility challenges. India’s hybrid structure and the U.S. model of functional decentralization highlight intermediate solutions that balance autonomy with methodological unity. The paper concludes that the integrity of official statistics depends less on centralization than on the institutional design that enables trust, collaboration, and professional accountability across levels of government.