abstract:Moral statistics most narrowly refers to numerical data generally considered to be indicative of social pathology in groups of people. Examples include statistics on crimes (against persons and property), illiteracy, suicide, illegitimacy, abortion, divorce, prostitution, and the economic situation sometimes called pauperism in the 19th century.
Professor Nutt has, laudably, staked the credibility of science in public policy on getting politicians to put away their moral sentiments and face up to statistics.