Comparability and Accuracy of Industry Codes in Different Data Systems

摘要

This report explores possible improvements in the quality, comparability, and efficiency of industry coding by government agencies, which use administrative records from business establishments as an efficient alternative to the direct collection of data. As background for the study, an interagency Industry Coding Working Group, set up by the Administrative Records Subcommittee of the Federal Committee on Statistical Methodology, reviewed and documented 16 major industry coding systems in 6 federal agencies. Chapters 2, 3, and 4 discuss factors affecting comparability, source data, and coding procedures. The quantitative data bearing on comparability are reviewed in Ch. 5. The final chapter offers conclusions and recommendations.