422 – Statistical Quality and Estimation Validation: Measuring the Benefits
Effects of Census Accuracy on Apportionment of Congress and Allocations of Federal Funds
Zachary H. Seeskin
Northwestern University
Bruce D. Spencer
Northwestern University
The accuracy needed for the 2020 census depends on the cost of attaining accuracy and on the consequences of imperfect accuracy. While the cost target for the 2020 census of the United States has been specified, and the Census Bureau is developing projections of the accuracy attainable for that cost, it is also important to have information about the consequences of the accuracy that is attainable for a given cost. To assess the consequences of imperfect census accuracy, we consider alternative profiles of accuracy for states and assess their implications for apportionment of the U.S. House of Representatives and for allocation of federal funds. An error in allocation is defined as the difference between the allocation computed under imperfect data and the allocation computed with perfect data. Estimates of expected sums of absolute values of errors are presented for House apportionment and for federal funds allocations.