文章基本信息

标题：Using the US and UK Censuses for Comparative Research
本地全文：下载
作者：Rebecca Tunstall
期刊名称：Distributional Analysis Publications
印刷版ISSN：1352-2469
出版年度：2005
卷号：2005
出版社：Suntory Toyota International Centres for Economics and Related Disciplines
摘要：Researchers, policymakers, and practitioners are constantly interested in international comparisons as a means to generate and test hypotheses and new ideas. Likewise, they have for centuries relied on census data as a key source of information about the nature and dynamics of nations. This discussion paper outlines the key features of the U.S. and U.K. censuses of population, their main similarities and differences, and how the two canvasses can be used for comparative research on population, housing, and other key issues. With a focus on the most recent censuses in 2000 for the United States and 2001 for the United Kingdom, the paper flags pitfalls for using the two sources comparatively, and it discusses how these potential problems can be overcome. Comparative research has been a fruitful source of innovation in academia, and many countries have a history of sharing policy ideas. And for good reason: By understanding the basic demography of more than one country, as well as the ways key data can and cannot be compared, researchers and policymakers can better tune the process of policy analysis and exchange involving such key issues as the supply of labor, the demand for housing, and the need for services such as education and health care.