>
>Given that (one hopes!) that a modern Census (e.g. the UK one) no longer
>serves the purpose (which existed in past times) of generating individual
>information (i.e. 'lists') primarily for taxation purposes, I can't help
>but wonder how justifiable it is, in statistical terms, to undertake a full
>Census, at great cost etc.
>
It is no accident that the census generates most enthusiasm amongst
those studying inequality and variation. Whilst we may not target down
to the individual we should be able to determine quite small areas of
deprivation.
The arguments for samples are usually based on estimation of means. I am
not sure that they would look so convincing in terms of identifying
variation and extreme values.
--
JIM SLATTERY
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