Improving response on the United States economic census through communication, coordination, and outreach

摘要

Abstract. Every 5 years the U.S. Census Bureau conducts an Economic Census covering the non-farm, private economy. ThenEconomic Census is the major source of facts about the structure and functioning of the United States’ economy. It forms thenfoundation ofmost statistics about American business and industry and also provides the industry and geographic detail businessesnand communities need to assess their performance, promote economic development, and identify business opportunities.nCensus forms were mailed to five million businesses in late 2007. The forms were due February 12, 2008, and results were to benreleased starting in early 2009. This ambitious schedule depended on timely and accurate responses from all businesses: millionsnof small, single-location businesses, and also thousands of very large businesses that account for a substantial share of nationalnoutput. Obtaining needed information from all of these businesses has become an increasing challenge, for a variety of reasons,nincluding reduced budgets for preparation of Government reports, wariness about the validity of all information requests, andnskepticism of the value of statistics being compiled. This particularly affects industries characterized by large numbers of smallnand relatively new businesses.nThe Census Bureau conducted a comprehensive communication program to encourage business response to the 2007 EconomicnCensus. This effort involved systematic improvements in and coordination of operations, procedures, and communications,nmanaged relationships with large businesses, and promotional activities directed at industries with relatively low historic responsenrates. The result was reversal of a fifteen-year downward trend in response rates as well as a dramatic improvement in timelinessnof response.nThis paper describes the 2007 Economic Census coordinated communication and response promotion plan and reviews itsneffectiveness in improving the level and timeliness of census response.