Vanoli presents a history of national accounting, from its emergence in the 1930s to the present day. Coverage includes the internal development of the discipline as well as the international harmonization of its methods. The author also examines major debates, such as those surrounding the relationships between production, value, and welfare. Vanoli is former director of INSEE, the French Central Statistical Office. This is a translation of a volume originally published in French by Editions de la Découverte in Paris in 2002. Annotation ©2006 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)