Whereas no data exist without the presence of some theoretical background, no testing (or validation)can possibly be made without empirical data. This simple fact, however, should form no barrier for us to proceed with empirical examinations of social and economic phenomena. In the opinion of the present writer, methodological difficulty inherent in studies of social and humanities sciences has caused too much (and unnecessary)fuss on the part of the professionals with regard to the difficulty to come to definite assertion, thus increasing the number of methodological agnostics. However, subtlety and care is required only in relatively marginal cases where interface with fundamental institutional set ups and/or cultural value system must be discussed.
Empirical studies tend to lag behind theoretical discussion: for the very simple reason that data processing and data manufacturing cannot possibly catch up with changes and development in new intellectual endeavours. While some old hypotheses are still in discussion, a surge of new topics is often introduced, and a new series of research must be started with only insufficient data sources to back them up.
As a result, economic research continues on in such a fashion that some old topics do not die out easily and, in fact, come back to the stage after a while with some new dresses on. The seemingly infinite recycling of this kind may be a reason why the history of economic doctrines often fails to excite the mind of young scholars and graduate students.
In any event, the role of empirical data and of data engineering is quite important since they form the essential basis on which old hypotheses are tested before they form indispensable ingredients of new theories.
Our knowledge should be checked against the data and, if necessary, be revised as new facts are discovered. For this very simple reason, the formation of basic statistics should be continued on in as systematic a manner as possible. In this sense, the compilation of basic data is one of the most important social contributions of the present generation to the future generations.