How the Content of the Agricultural and Economic Censuses Is Determined and Used
IMTEC-83-4: Published: Sep 2, 1983. Publicly Released: Oct 3, 1983.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
In response to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the 1982 agricultural and economic censuses, focusing on how the Bureau of the Census determines their content and how the data are actually used. The law specifies that every 5 years certain activities, such as agriculture and manufacturing, be covered by these censuses.
GAO found that, due to the large volume of data and the variety of data users involved, the Bureau did not attempt to formally verify the need for data. However, it did attempt to design the census questionnaires to enable it to collect accurate and useful data by: (1) reviewing the results of prior censuses to determine questions that elicited incomplete or insignificant responses; (2) soliciting comments from a broad range of data users; and (3) submitting questionnaires for external reviews. These various procedures resulted in few major changes to the questionnaires. GAO found that, for the many Federal and non-Federal organizations that use the data, the economic censuses provide: an integrated database for computing and adjusting major Government economic indicators; input for designing economic and statistical surveys; and a basis for developing marketing strategies in the private sector. The agricultural census is used by Federal and State agencies and the private sector to analyze long-term trends and local area data and contains the only published, consistent county level data. The Department of Agriculture's Statistical Reporting Service, the provider of the most current agricultural information, bases many of its economic indicators and publications on the agricultural census data.
Jul 21, 2016
IRS 2017 Budget:
IRS Could Improve Presentation of Budget Data in Its Congressional JustificationGAO-16-695: Published: Jul 21, 2016. Publicly Released: Jul 21, 2016.
Jun 23, 2016
-
Army Working Capital Fund:
Army Industrial Operations Could Improve Budgeting and Management of CarryoverGAO-16-543: Published: Jun 23, 2016. Publicly Released: Jun 23, 2016.
May 12, 2016
-
District of Columbia:
Local Budget Autonomy Amendment Act of 2012GAO-16-663T: Published: May 12, 2016. Publicly Released: May 12, 2016.
Apr 14, 2016
-
2014 Sequestration:
Opportunities Exist to Improve Transparency of Progress Toward Deficit Reduction GoalsGAO-16-263: Published: Apr 14, 2016. Publicly Released: Apr 14, 2016.
Mar 4, 2016
-
Modernizing the Nuclear Security Enterprise:
NNSA's Budget Estimates Increased but May Not Align with All Anticipated CostsGAO-16-290: Published: Mar 4, 2016. Publicly Released: Mar 4, 2016.
Oct 30, 2015
-
2013 Sequestration and Shutdown:
Selected Agencies Generally Managed Unobligated Balances in Reviewed Accounts, but Balances Exceeded Target Levels in Two AccountsGAO-16-26: Published: Oct 30, 2015. Publicly Released: Oct 30, 2015.
Sep 9, 2015
-
Pay for Success:
Collaboration among Federal Agencies Would be Helpful as Governments Explore New Financing MechanismsGAO-15-646: Published: Sep 9, 2015. Publicly Released: Sep 9, 2015.
Aug 17, 2015
-
U.S. Savings Bonds:
Future of Offering Paper Savings Bonds at Tax Time Is Uncertain, and Lower-Income Households Continue to Face Savings ChallengesGAO-15-563: Published: Jul 16, 2015. Publicly Released: Aug 17, 2015.
Jul 9, 2015
-
Debt Limit:
Market Response to Recent Impasses Underscores Need to Consider Alternative ApproachesGAO-15-476: Published: Jul 9, 2015. Publicly Released: Jul 9, 2015.
Apr 27, 2015
-
Budgeting for Disasters:
Approaches to Budgeting for Disasters in Selected StatesGAO-15-424: Published: Mar 26, 2015. Publicly Released: Apr 27, 2015.
Looking for more? Browse all our products here
Explore our Key Issues on Budget and Spending
Explore our other Key Issues here
