158 – Modeling Response for Tailoring in Contact Strategies in Censuses and Surveys

Examining Economic Census Reporting Patterns

at U.S. Census Bureau

In this paper, we examine reporting patterns for the 2012 Economic Census to inform future data collections. The economic census is a quinquennial survey of U.S. business establishments in the eight major business trade areas: manufacturing, construction, mining, retail, services, wholesale, finance-insurance-real estate, and utilities-transportation. Information collected includes employment labor costs and output, assets, expenditures, inventory, and other industry-specific items. For the 2012 Economic Census, data were primarily collected using two-self-administered modes: mail-out/mail-back and electronic. Electronic data collection was through one of two custom-built Census Bureau software products, depending on the size of the business. Available data for this analysis include 2007 and 2012 Economic Census data, both of which include establishment responses to the survey and survey process data. We examine establishment-reporting behavior by sector. We also use multinomial modeling to understand business characteristics that predict which establishments are most likely to switch (or not switch) response mode. Here, we present our initial findings, and hope that they might be used to influence discussions on improving data collection efficiencies, including tailoring survey contact strategies.