If you use these statistics, you must attribute them to the Economic Policy Institute (because other economists use different, often contradictory, statistics). For example:

According to the Economic Policy Institute (2006), "In 2004, the median wealth of black households was just one-tenth that of white households, $11,800, compared to $118,300" (para. 12).

In general, you should use such statistics

• to show why some economists believe globalization increases inequality
• to describe a tendency toward inequality in the American economy
• to support your position on globalization and inequality.

Such statistics also can be

• contrasted with other statistics
• criticized as inaccurate or misleading
• defended from criticism

Read the following excerpts from the Handout on Statistics from The Writing Center at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill:

Many writers lack a firm grasp of the statistics they are using. The average reader does not know how to properly evaluate and interpret the statistics he or she reads. The main reason behind the poor use of statistics is a lack of understanding about what statistics can and cannot do. Many people think that statistics can speak for themselves. But numbers are as ambiguous as words and need just as much explanation.

In many ways, this problem is quite similar to that experienced with direct quotes. Too often, quotes are expected to do all the work; are treated as part of the argument, rather than a piece of evidence requiring interpretation (see our handout on how to quote.) But if you leave the interpretation up to the reader, who knows what sort of off-the-wall interpretations may result? The only way to avoid this danger is to supply the interpretation yourself.

Reading statistics

As stated before, numbers are powerful. This is one of the reasons why statistics can be such persuasive pieces of evidence. However, this same power can also make numbers and statistics intimidating. That is, we too often accept them as gospel, without ever questioning their veracity or appropriateness.

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