Brief Overall Description of the Dataset:
The Economic Census is comprised of survey results from nearly 4 million businesses across the United States. The dataset reports the economic conditions of the United States of America. Data is most recently available for the year of 2012. From this data, the government and researchers can measure the health of the US Economy and work to provide aid where needed.
Link: http://www.census.gov/econ/census/about/
Date Inventory Completed: 06/17/2015
Screening
- Is the data collected opinion-based?
- Is the data collection recurring (must be collected at least annually)?
- Is there data available for 2013?
- Is the data collected at the property or housing unit level?
- Can we access the data by August 15th?
Purpose
What is the purpose of the organization collecting the data?
“The Economic Census is the U.S. Government's official five-year measure of American business and the economy. It is conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau, and response is required by law.”
Why is it collected and how does the organization use it?
“The Economic Census provides detailed statistics that are important for industries and communities. Trade associations, chambers of commerce, and businesses rely on this information for economic development, business decisions, and strategic planning. ”
Who else uses the data?
Businesses, researchers, policy makers
Who do they sell the data to?
Anyone
Method
What is the data collection method?
Survey See: http://www.census.gov/econ/census/help/methodology_disclosure/
What is the type of data collected?
Designed collection
If designed, who created the questions?
US Census
What is the raw source of the collected data (prior to any aggregation)?
Self-reported data
Description
What is the general topic of the data (1-2 words)?
Economic Data
What are the earliest and latest dates for which data is available?
1810-2012
Is data collected and available periodically?
Last reported in October through December 2012
How soon after a reference period ends can a data source be prepared and provided?
Not specifically stated
Selectivity
What is the universe (e.g., population) that the data represents?
“Forms were sent out to nearly 4 million businesses, including large, medium and small companies representing all U.S. locations and industries.”
Accessibility
- How is the data accessed?
Download
- Is it open data?
Yes
Any legal, regulatory, or administrative restrictions on accessing the data source?
None
Cost? - One time or annual or project based payment?
None
Does this dataset appear to meet our needs for the Census study? NO
Explanation:
This dataset looks at business data rather than housing data. While information is available for late 2012, it is not available for 2013.