A Modern Statistical Infrastructure for Excellent Research an Policy Advice: Report on the German Council for Social and Economic Data during its First Period in Offi ce (2004 – 2006)

In this article, the two chairpersons of the German Council for Social and Economic Data (RatSWD: Rat fuer Sozial- und Wirtschaftsdaten) give a summary of the council’s work in the years 2004 to 2006 and its future plans for improving the statistical infrastructure for economic and social research.