The utility of data based on areal units, such as British censuses, depends at least as much on the definition of these areal units as on the variables measured. The discontinuation of the local-authority areas used for all previous censuses allows a radical evaluation of the alternative areas for census-data presentation. A conceptual basis is discussed which contrasts simple areal aggregates with genuine ‘objects of interest’. It is suggested that the daily urban system is the candidate which best meets these criteria for a meaningful areal unit for census-data presentation.
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