Modernizing the U.S. Census

The U.S. census, conducted every 10 years since 1790, faces dramatic new challenges as the country begins its third century. Critics of the 1990 census cited problems of increasingly high costs, continued racial differences in counting the population, and declining public confidence.This volume provides a major review of the traditional U.S. census. Starting from the most basic questions of how data are used and whether they are needed, the volume examines the data that future censuses should provide. It evaluates several radical proposals that have been made for changing the census, as well as other proposals for redesigning the year 2000 census. The book also considers in detail the much-criticized long form, the role of race and ethnic data, and the need for and ways to obtain small-area data between censuses.Table of ContentsFront MatterSUMMARY1 THE ROLE OF THE CENSUS2 POPULATION COVERAGE AND ITS IMPLICATIONS3 CENSUS COST INCREASES AND THEIR CAUSES4 RADICAL ALTERNATIVES5 A REDESIGNED CENSUS6 CENSUS CONTENT7 DATA ON RACE AND ETHNICITY8 INTERCENSAL SMALL-AREA DATAREFERENCESAPPENDICESA Basic Information on Census QuestionnairesB The Census ProcessC Data Requirements for Reapportionment and RedistrictingD Research Uses of Census DataE State and Local Needs for Census DataF Business Uses of Census DataG Use of Decennial Census Data in Transportation PlanningH Census Data Needs for Housing and Urban DevelopmentI Alternative Ways to Produce Intercensal Small-Area DataJ Content and Quality of Federal and State Administrative RecordsK Quality of Current Data on Race and EthnicityL Allocation RatesM Census Data Requirements by Federal AgenciesN Groups and Individuals ConsultedO Biographical Sketches