Cyhelsky, Lubomir2016-12-292016-12-291983Ruch Prawniczy, Ekonomiczny i Socjologiczny 45, 1983, z. 1, s. 133-1500035-9629http://hdl.handle.net/10593/16917The article defines the term „index" indicating at its Latin origin and at its present meaning in some spheres of human activity. Next, the meaning on the term „index" in economic statistics is presented. The indices can be classified with a use of different criteria. The article employes their division into absolute and relative ones. The following can be specified in the relative index group: relative rationals (intensive), relative irrationals and relative figures expressing the comparison of equal indexes. Definition of index in economic statistics in the views of representatives of the index theory is discussed in the next part of the article. The I. Fisher and B. Korda definitions are criticised. The author is reflecting on the Flaskämper definition. The work of numerous Soviet statisticians in describing the sense and notion of index in economic statistics is also emphasised. In the closing remarks the criteria of index definition are discussed. In the end the following definition of index is offered by the author: index in economic statistics is a relative irrational expressing temporary, spatial or material relation of equal indices, or analysing it. The indices indicators are understood to be numbers characterising a property of the defined individual or the statistical set.polinfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessArtykuł