The United States Census at the dawn of the twenty-first century

Abstract

This paper introduces a special issue of the Journal of Economic and Social Measurement that considers challenges that face the decennial US census at the beginning of the twenty-first century. Some involve data needs and public policy, some involve political issues, and others are technical. National and local aspects are each examined. Because the census is bound to politics by Article I of the US Constitution, competing political forces have continually shaped it. Policy actions are examined that set the stage for census conflicts in the late 20th century. Suggestions are offered for reducing these conflicts in the 21st century. The exploration of technical issues facing the census generally focuses on the question of how to accurately measure the rapidly changing distribution and composition of the US population in a cost-effective manner.