The United States Government

The U.S. statistical system is a national treasure— essential to maintaining a democratic form of government, facilitating a market based economy, and nourishing a thriving scientific research enterprise. That treasure, while giving tremendous value, also shows signs of wear and tear. Many parts of the system need refurbishing and bolstering, based not only on a proper appreciation of the resources the system needs, but also on sustained research and development (R&D) to guide improvements and innovations.

Before critiquing the system, it is necessary to understand its basic contours. The United States has a highly decentralized system in comparison with other countries. According to Janet Norwood in Organizing to Count: Change in the Federal Statistical System, the system grew by adding separate agencies whenever Congress and the executive branch felt the need for systematic information about a particular aspect of the economy, society, or environment to serve specific government programs and constituencies.

At present, the federal statistical system comprises the 14 principal statistical agencies that sit on the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, chaired by the chief statistician in the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) (see Principal Federal Statistical Agencies). These agencies are overseen by seven congressional appropriations subcommittees, as well as authorizing committees. The system also includes more than 80 research, policy, and program agencies with budgets for statistical activities of $500,000 or more. Many of the principal agencies direct federal-state cooperative statistics programs. From this system come monthly, quarterly, annual, and less frequent indicators of population, employment, crime, education, health, poverty, prices, gross domestic product, and many other topics (http://www7.nationalacademies.org). In addition, the system provides detailed tabulations, often for sub-national geographic areas and population groups, and individual-level micro-data, either in public-use micro-data files suitably processed to protect confidentiality or in a restricted access mode for research use.

The statistical ...