Transcript Why is it more and more difficult to finance a census?

Why is it more and more difficult
to finance a census?
François CLANCHÉ
Insee, National statistical office, France
01/10/2013
Census 2010 statistical models
GDP per capita in Europe, $PPP
Census statistical model for the 2010 census round
in UNECE contries according to GDP par capita
GDP per
capita, PPP
Less than $
10,000
10 to 20,000 $
Traditional
census
6
Combined
method
0
Registers
only
0
10
2
0
20 to 30,000 $
6
3
1
30 to 40,000 $
3
4
3
More than
40,000 $
4
2
5
29
11
9
Baumol's cost disease
1966 publication from William Baumol and William Bowen :
Performing Arts, The Economic Dilemma
Some economic activities, called "archaic", are not likely to
achieve productivity gains over the long term.
The time and effort of census enumerators needed to collect
information from 1000 people has hardly diminished during the
past 100 years.
But enumerators salaries increase in the long run, with the
average salaries in the country
Cost of the census collect in countries making complete surveys
The French rolling census, ten years after its launch
30/09/2013
Beaumol effect and traditional census
The more an economy is developped, the more the costs of a
complete enumeration appears high.
Either governments accept to pay more and more, either
traditional census will disappear.
Alternative census methods are not concernerd by the Beaumol
effect
Conclusion
Most of the rich countries using traditional census are
considering an evolution of their census statistical model
Among less wealthy countries, half are also considering
such a move.
It is likely that during the next census rounds alternative
methods will expend in parallel with the rising standard of
living in all regions of the UNECE.
Thank you for your attention
François CLANCHÉ
Insee, National statistical office, France
30/09/2013