This book analyses the explosion of data sources, global trends and the changing role of the state, the economy, and healthcare provision. It addresses controversies in data construction, analysis, dissemination, and access / ownership. The authors examine the power of data to shape everyday socio-political discourse, its use by private and governmental organisations, the media and politicians, and the important role of statistics in exposing injustices and shaping social progress.

Contributions by: Jim Ridgway, Ron Johnston, Liliana Bounegru, Jonathan Gray, Amy Sippitt, Spencer Hedger, Sinclair Sutherland, James Nicholson, Charlotte Brookfield, Luke Sloan, Malcolm Williams, Keiko Yasukawa, James Goodman, Nour Dados, Kate Bloor, Ludi Simpson, Neil Duncan-Jordan, Jay Ginn, Richard Cookson, Tim Doran, Roy Carr-Hill, David Walker, Prem Sikka, Rebecca Boden, Paul Bivand, Stewart Lansley, Christopher Deeming, Steve Fothergill, Christina Beatty, David Byrne, David Rhind, Richard Murphy, Alessio D'Angelo, Eleonore Kofman, Brad Blitz, Roy Carr-Hill, Adrian Tear, Gary Hearne, Ifan Shepherd, Ruth Gilbert, Harvey Goldstein, Kevin McConway