How can you use economic data and statistics to drive social change?

The premise is already off if you start with a cause. This is science and you start with a problem not a cause. The problem with science today is it isn't science anymore, its political propaganda. Entire data sets are no longer useful, because we have given in to political pressure and there are no longer ethical journalists to question what is and what they say is so. When a motor bike rider hits a tree going 180, his death is blunt force trauma. When a hospital gets to go back and change the cause eight months later to COVID due to him having a cough six months before the bike accident, there is a problem. It comes down to science, where any result can be duplicated and if the notion is true, it can bear a repeated result.

Assuming the interest i already there, I find Kate Rowlings doughnut economics helpful to find out if social or climate causes should be prioritized. That is which causes may be more important to investigate for a country and improve. She identifies 9 ecogical and 12 social areas that are important for humanity and thus affecting the economy.

In general, statistics are associated with figures and methodological processes. However, these go much further, being a fundamental instrument for the planning and economic, social and political development of any territory. Statistics become essential inputs for decision-making in multiple aspects, including the allocation of budgets and the creation of social programs; for example, the approval of school feeding programs that respond to the well-being of students, and prevent school dropouts and health problems. Starting in 2015, every five years, World Statistics Day is celebrated on October 20, which seeks to recognize the importance of statistics in shaping our societies and the power of data to improve lives.

You're most likely to make a real impact if you maintain a very local focus. Your town or neighborhood has issues with parks, schools, homeless, jobs and land use. You have ready access to local government meetings and ordinances. If you are reasonably knowledgeable and willing to do research you will find yourself with an actual voice on things that actually impact the local economy. Things like relaxing zoning to increase housing are very achievable. You are very unlikely to add marginal value in a national issue. In contrast in under-resourced small municipalities and neighborhood organizations, you get much higher returns to your efforts.

I guess what has been largely neglected here is the process of data collection/source needs to be based on economic theories and principles. For example, if first-hand data is required, the survey needs to be carefully designed and supported by theories.

Coletar os dados não envolve apenas selecionar o setor ou área que deseja pesquisar, envolve conhecer de onde vem os dados, como tratá-los e o principal, como transformar os dados em insights e fazer com que as pessoas tenham a mesma linha de racioncínio.

In order to use economic data to drive social change, we need to be mindful of certain qualitative factors as well such gender, race, caste, and cultural implications. Most often, hard number driven data can overlook these aspects. Hence, it is essential to be mindful of the fact that when we are using economic data to drive social change, we are not focusing only on quantitative data but also qualitative data because our policies need to be tailor-made and not be "one size fits all" in order to bring forth a concrete social change.