U.S. taxpayer-funded government reports on the economy and agriculture have generated comments from stakeholders and others, especially since the Internet has made it easier for anyone to comment.
We decided to check in on response rates for USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) reports after a new study by the American Statistical Association warned the reliability of U.S. economic data is at risk due to shrinking budgets, declining survey response rates and potential political interference (this is not the case with NASS reports). Currently, government statistics remain dependable, but the study, authored by statisticians from various institutions including George Mason University and the Urban Institute, likens the statistical system to infrastructure that is often neglected until a crisis occurs. (The New York Times addressed the matter in this article.)
By JIM WIESEMEYER
July 11, 2024
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