[EU-lobby-data] Decision to be made> Lobbying costs

Tue Dec 11 11:27:44 UTC 2012

Hello,

Just a reminder about the "average vs maximum" issue. So far, only 
Natacha gave her opinion. It would be nice if we can all think a bit 
about it and take a decision on Thursday.

Cheers,
ester

On 03/12/12 10:44, Natacha Cingotti wrote:
> Hey there, good morning,
>
> Tricky question that keeps on coming back. In FoEE, we have always 
> used average figures in that case in the past, exactly for the 
> neutrality question you mentioned. I see how interesting for what 
> we're trying to do it could be to use the highest figures, but the 
> neutrality issue should probably be considered.
>
> What do others think?
>
> Best
>
> Natacha
> On 30/11/2012 14:51, ceo.ester wrote:
>>
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I'm back :)
>>
>> I was working today with Friedrich on the data I need (to write the 
>> blog stories), and we realized there's an issue we should take a 
>> decision on. When registrants in their declarations of lobbying costs 
>> give a range (instead of an absolute number), what should we do? 
>> Which figure should we use for statistics and comparisons?
>>
>> In the report we made in June, we decided to use an average, because 
>> we thought it seemed more honest, but actually there are also some 
>> arguments to use the maximum figure they provide. In any case, we 
>> really don't know which figure is more close to reality, and of 
>> course, it changes from case to case, but we need to decide on a 
>> criteria to apply to everyone.
>>
>> To sum up, I would say
>>
>> Arguments to use an average:
>> - It looks as a less biased approach
>> - It's more difficult to attack our methodology
>>
>>
>> Arguments to use the max. figure:
>> - We have reasons and proof to say lobbying costs are in general 
>> underestimated
>> - We will probably get more interesting figures, and considering 
>> under reporting, probably also closer to reality
>> - It's a way of pushing for a more clear reporting
>>
>> What do you think?
>>
>>
>> Ester
>>
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>
> -- 
> Natacha Cingotti
> Lobby transparency and corporate power
> Friends of the Earth Europe
> Tel: +32 2 893 10 23
> Fax: +32 2 893 10 35
> Skype: c_natacha
> natacha.cingotti at foeeurope.org  
>
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-- 
Ester Arauzo
Researcher and media outreach coordinator
ester at corporateeurope.org
Corporate Europe Observatory
www.corporateeurope.org

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