Better Data for Better Decisions: The Value of the American Community Survey to the Nation

High quality, up-to-date information is critical to improving market efficiency, developing effective public policies, and efficiently allocating scarce public resources.

Since 2000, our population has grown by more than ten million, and by 2010, there will be more than 300 million people living in the United States. This population growth means we’ll need new homes, stores, roads, schools, and jobs. The American Community Survey (ACS), administered by the U.S. Census Bureau, will provide the data needed to make strategic decisions for addressing this growth by supplying timely, updated profiles for every community in America. This August, the Census Bureau will release the first annual estimates from the ACS for approximately 8,000 communities, as well as every Congressional district.

So that Congressional staff and nongovernmental organizations may better appreciate the extraordinary importance of Census numbers, The Brookings Institution is organizing a series of three briefings on Capitol Hill in 2006. The briefing on June 23, examined the public and private sector uses of the new ACS.

The Brookings Briefings on the Census Series
So that Congressional staff and nongovernmental organizations may better appreciate the extraordinary importance of Census numbers, the Brookings Institution is organizing a series of three briefings on Capitol Hill in 2006. The first, held on April 7, examined preparations for the 2010 Census and implications for apportionment and the economy. The second, held on June 23, will examine the public and private uses of the new ACS. The third, held this fall, will look at the Census Bureau’s efforts between the Decennial Censuses to produce annual estimates of population for each state, county, city, and place in the nation.

Stay Informed
If you cannot attend, but would like to be informed of upcoming Brookings Urban Markets Initiative Briefings on Capitol Hill, please email Lindsay Clark at [email protected]. Send us your contact information and we’ll add you to our mailing list.