The Crisis in State and Local Government Statistics

This article provides an unofficial summary of the findings and recommendations of the Panel on Research and Development Priorities for the U.S. Census Bureau's State and Local Government Statistics Program. The panel was convened by the Committee on National Statistics of the National Research Council, one of the four organizations that comprise the National Academies. The author served as a member of this panel. Robust statistical systems produce products that are important to understanding the changing state of the economy and to formulating sound policy But statistical systems, like physical infrastructures, become obsolete or depreciate with time if they are not maintained.