In order to describe and analyse the thinking behind important government policy and firm-level decisions, it is important to understand some key economic concepts and data that are commonly used in the public domain. Recent research carried out in the UK highlighted that the public communication of economic issues and statistics needs to improve. This chapter has two overarching aims within this context. The first is to provide students with an understanding of some key concepts within economics that are commonly referred to in the public domain but can often be misinterpreted. The second is to highlight some common pitfalls in relation to how quantitative research and data are reported. A cornerstone of research within economics is to examine how the decisions made by people or governments are affected by different forces or interventions. The accurate communication of research findings is therefore critical when it comes to informing the public about research that has important implications for the economy or society. Illustrative examples of these are presented throughout.
Silke, H; Quinn, F; Rieder, M