When political leaders meddle in government data, it rarely ends well, says reporter

Government Data Manipulation Risks - Political leaders meddling in government data rarely ends well, as seen in Greece, China, and Argentina [1][2] - Undermining data integrity erodes a country's international standing and increases borrowing costs [2][4] - Accurate data is crucial for citizens to hold leaders accountable and for informed decision-making [5] Economic and Investment Implications - Data manipulation creates uncertainty for investors and companies making capital expenditure decisions [10][11] - Distrust in government data can undermine confidence in the country's credibility domestically and internationally [4][13] - The US is at a critical juncture, and the integrity of data production needs to be maintained to avoid a loss of confidence [7][8] Historical Parallels and Warnings - Argentina's systematic understatement of inflation led to a loss of international confidence and a debt crisis [2][3] - Greece's prosecution of the head of its statistical agency further eroded its international standing [1][5] - Janet Yellen likens the US situation to that of a banana republic, highlighting the severity of the concern [6]