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“The New Census”
Summary of Remarks by
Cynthia A. Glassman
Under Secretary of Economic Affairs
Department of Commerce
June 7, 2007
The primary focus of Dr. Glassman’s presentation was the reengineered 2010 decennial census. The Decennial Census is mandated by the Constitution and is used to apportion seats in the House of Representatives. Data were originally collected by federal marshals on horseback, but are now collected by mail with non-response follow-up by approximately 500,000 temporary data collectors. Approximately one million people working in 500 offices will ultimately be involved in the data collection for the 2010 Decennial Census.
Planning for the 2010 Census is proceeding, taking into account lessons learned with the previous Census. Dr. Glassman discussed efforts to correct some of the problems with the 2000 Census. In 2001, a multiyear effort began to reengineer the Census to reduce operational risk, improve the accuracy of coverage, and contain costs.
In the 2000 Census, both a Short Form and a Long Form were used in data collection, involving the mailing of the forms and followed up by enumerators in cases of non-response. The Long Form has now been eliminated as a part of the 2010 data collection. The form collected extensive information but was also responsible for relatively high non-response problems, resulting in the need for expensive follow-up efforts. The Long Form provided a useful snapshot of the American public on a ten-year basis. However, enumerators had trouble finding some people, and field work, although generally effective, is expensive.
The Long Form has been replaced by the American Community Survey (ACS) which collects Long Form type data by surveying 250,000 people each month all year. While part of the overall Census program, the ACS has been separated from the Decennial Census. The value of the ACS has been demonstrated on several occasions. For example, the ACS was used to measure the impact of Hurricane Katrina. In addition, the ACS was used in the development of a scenario for vaccine allocation in dealing with a potential pandemic bird flu situation.
Accordingly, the 2010 Census will only need to collect data for the population count, not the somewhat more data intensive information on the previous Long Form. To facilitate data collection, the master address file that maintains address and geographic information on an up-to-date basis and integrates with Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates will be used for mapping and location purposes. As a result of improved mapping, costs will be lower than they would otherwise have been. In a major data collection reengineering effort, the Census will use GPS hand-held computers for field data collection, reducing paper, office space, and administrative costs. By using only the short form, the Census will be able to mail a second questionnaire in cases of non-response, reducing on-site collection, which is the most expensive part of the data collection effort in many cases. Work on improving the wording of the Census questionnaire and associated instructions is proceeding, as well as efforts on clearly delineating all people in a household and efforts focused on collecting improved, comprehensive data for individuals living in group quarters. It is expected that using the GPS approach, Census will be able to find people more accurately and also eliminate double counting. A “dress rehearsal” will be implemented in Fayetteville, North Carolina and Stockton, California in April 2008.
Dr. Glassman also discussed a recently formed Department of Commerce advisory committee, The Measuring Innovation in the 21st Century Economy Advisory Committee (http://www.innovationmetrics.gov/ ). The Advisory Committee will work to identify which data can be used to develop a broader measure of innovation’s impact on the economy and will develop ways to measure innovation so that policy makers and the public can better understand its impact on economic growth and productivity. As indicated by Commerce Secretary Gutierrez, "American innovation is important to the vitality of our economy, and it is important to understand the impact innovation has on productivity and economic growth. Getting a better understanding of how innovation contributes to our economy will help us craft policies to continue to grow and prosper."
The Advisory Committee is composed of CEOs and academic experts representing the diversity of the American economy. Its first meeting was held in February, and a report is expected in late 2007. The Advisory Committee anticipates the recommendations will cover the following four major categories identified by the participants during the initial meeting:
1) Improvement of the underlying architecture of the U.S. System of National Accounts to facilitate development of improved and more granular measures of innovation and productivity.
2) Identification of appropriate economy-wide and sector-specific statistical series or other indicators that could be used to quantify innovation and/or its impacts.
3) Identification of firm-specific data items that could enable comparisons and aggregation.
4) Identification of specific "holes" in the current data collection system that limit our ability to measure innovation.
As Under Secretary for Economic Affairs at the Department of Commerce, Dr. Glassman is the principal economic adviser to Commerce Secretary Carlos M. Gutierrez and head of the Economics and Statistics Administration, overseeing two statistical agencies – the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Census Bureau. Previously, she served as Commissioner and Acting Chairman at the SEC. She taught economics at the University of Cambridge, England, where she has been named an Honorary Fellow of Lucy Cavendish College. Dr. Glassman received her MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania and her BA in Economics from Wellesley College.
Rapporteur: Jed Smith
