Reengineering the census of population and housing in the united states

Abstract

The United States Decennial Census of Population and Housing is an essential part of the American political, economic, and social systems. Census data are critically important in achieving equitable political representation, and in a variety of other public and private sector uses. Census 2000 was an unprecedented operational success and the most accurate census to date in terms of coverage. However, given the rapid demographic and technological changes that will continue to occur over this decade, the methods of Census 2000 cannot be repeated in 2010 without incurring unacceptable risk and cost. The reengineered 2010 Census consists of three highly integrated activities designed to dramatically improve upon what was a very good census in 2000. We will accomplish this by taking advantage of opportunities for innovation – made possible through the expanded use of technology – in order to: 1) increase the coverage, accuracy, and quality of census data; 2) reduce operational risk; 3) increase the relevance and timeliness of census long form data; and 4) contain costs. The three highly integrated activities we have embarked upon to meet these goals are: 1) the American Community Survey (ACS); 2) the Master Address File/Topologically Integrated Geographic Encoding and Referencing (MAF/TIGER) Enhancements Program; and 3) a multi-year program of comprehensive planning, development, and testing for a short form only 2010 Census. We expect that the cost reductions in the last component will be sufficient to offset the costs of all three components of the reengineered census. That is, all three components can be carried out at a cost that is no greater – and probably somewhat less – than the cost of repeating the Census 2000 process.