Subject: Session on data this Thursday
From: nordhaus (william.nordhaus@yale.edu)
Date: Tue Oct 28 2003 - 18:36:19 EST
To NBER PE participants,
The AEA recently established a Committee on Economic Statistics
(AEAStat). AEAStat is charged inter alia with working to improve the quality
and range of economic statistics in different areas of interest to the
economics profession.
One approach that the Committee is considering is to examine
data needs in different subfields of economics. This would involve a
detailed study of the needs for data improvement, both from a research and
public-policy point of view. The Committee thought that public economics was
a particularly ripe field for such a study.
With this in mind, Jim Poterba agreed to set aside a few minutes
at the end of the session on October 30 to launch a discussion of such a
study. The issues I would hope the group would address are the following:
* What are the major gaps in statistical data that hinder either basic
or policy research in public economics?
* What initiatives could be taken to fill these gaps - either using
existing surveys or administrative data, or by undertaking new
data-gathering exercises?
* Are there important research or policy areas that would be furthered
by merging existing data sets?
* What is the best vehicle for undertaking such an examination?
The presumption is that most initiatives for new or improved
data would be taken at the federal level, although data initiatives at the
state level might also be considered. Also, to be most useful, proposals
need to be at a minimal level of concreteness.
I hope that those of you who are interested in empirical aspects
of public economics will spend a few moments considering data needs.
Additionally, if any of you are interested in serving on a committee, please
let me know. I look forward to seeing you on Thursday.
William Nordhaus
Yale and NBER
Chair, AEA Committee on
Economic Statistics
