IBGE Makes Mistakes in PNAD, Government Inquiry Opened

09/23/2014 - 09h19

The IBGE acknowledged on Friday (19), one day after the release of the PNAD (National Household Sample Survey), that the survey contained errors.

Under Dilma's Government, Inequality Reduction Halts in Brazil

The problem - the largest in the organization's recent history - happened in states with more than one metropolitan area, like São Paulo.

According to the institute, the calculation of the Gini index, a measure of inequality, was changed.

The Gini index went from 0.496 in 2012 to 0.495 last year, which indicates stagnation, according to IBGE.

On Thursday (18), the institute had reported that the indicator had risen to 0.498 (the index ranges from 0 to 1; the closer to 1, the greater the inequality).

Minister Miriam Belchior (Planning) said the government "is shocked" by the error and will create a committee of independent experts to evaluate "the consistency of PNAD," as well as another commission of inquiry to "find the reasons for the errors" and those responsible for them.

The research director of IBGE, Roberto Olinto, denied "interference and [political] pressure" in the alteration of the results.

"The question comes down to a technical error." For Bivar, if the act is found to be intentional, there will be punishment.

Translated by JILL LANGLOIS

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	Alan Marques/Folhapress
	Minister Miriam Belchior (Planning) said the government "is shocked" by the error