The Brookings Institution convened a one-day data workshop to address the vexing problem of inadequacies in the data needed to fully understand the dimensions of services offshoring.
The objective of the workshop was to explore and help remedy important blind spots in official statistics that have limited what we know about the offshoring phenomenon so far.
The workshop brought together experts from the statistical agencies that collect the key data series with economic researchers who are data users. Participants discussed the data which currently exist, and how these data could be improved. The meeting focused on data and research issues, and was not intended to address policy.
Discussion was on an off-the-record basis although the following information is available: