Behind the numbers : U.S. trade in the world economy / Anne Y. Kester, editor ; Panel on Foreign Trade Statistics, Committee on National Statistics, Commission on Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Kester, Anne Y.

National Research Council (U.S.). Panel on Foreign Trade Statistics.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Exports--United States.

Exports.

United States--Commerce.

United States.

United States--Foreign economic relations.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (312 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, D.C. : National Academy Press, 1992.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

America's international economic decisions rest to a large degree on the information available to policymakers. Yet the quality of international trade and financial data is in serious doubt. This book reveals how our systems for collecting and analyzing trade data have fallen behind the times--and presents recommendations for new approaches to accuracy and usefulness of these economic data. The volume traces the burgeoning use of international economic data by public and private analysts at a time when the United States is becoming increasingly integrated into the world economy. It also points out problems of capturing new transactions, comparing data from different sources, limited access to the data, and more. This is the first volume to review all three types of U.S. international data--merchandise trade, international services transactions, and capital flows. Highlights include: Specific steps for U.S. agencies to take. Special analyses on improving the accuracy of merchandise trade data, filling data gaps on the fast-growing international services transactions, and understanding structural changes in world capital markets. Comments, complaints, and suggestions from an original survey of more than 100 key users of trade data. This practical volume will be invaluable to policymakers, government officials, business executives, economists, statisticians, and researchers.

Contents:

""Behind The Numbers""; ""Copyright""; ""Contents""; ""ACKNOWLEDGMENTS""; ""BEHIND THE NUMBER""; ""SUMMARY OF MAJOR CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS""; ""SUPPLEMENTING THE EXISTING STATISTICAL FRAMEWORK AND INTEGRATING DISPARATE DATA SETS""; ""A Supplemental Framework""; ""Comparable Data""; ""Recommendations""; ""ENHANCING DATA QUALITY""; ""Merchandise Trade""; ""International Services Transactions""; ""Capital Flows""; ""Recommendations""; ""Merchandise Trade""; ""International Services Transactions""; ""Capital Flows""; ""IMPROVING THE DATA COLLECTION AND DATA ANALYSIS INTERFACE""

""Merchandise Trade""""International Services Transactions""; ""Capital Flows""; ""Recommendations""; ""INTRODUCTION""; ""THE INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT""; ""DATA NEEDS""; ""FOCUS OF ANALYSIS""; ""METHODOLOGY AND REPORT STRUCTURE""; ""PART I ENHANCING THE USABILITY OF DATA ON U.S. INTERNATIONAL TRANSACTIONS ""; ""1 Supplementing the Balance-of-Payments Framework ""; ""EXISTING STATISTICAL FRAMEWORK""; ""A SUPPLEMENTAL FRAMEWORK""; ""Uses for Public and Private Decisions""; ""Implications for Existing Data Systems""; ""RECOMMENDATION""

""2 Extending the Comparability of International and Domestic Economic Data """"COMPARABLE DATA: NEEDED BUT LACKING""; ""U.S. Foreign and Domestic Data""; ""International Data""; ""MERCHANDISE DATA""; ""U.S. and Other Countries Data""; ""Price Indexes for Imports And Exports""; ""Domestic Production and Import and Export Data""; ""Import and Export Data and Employment, Capital, and Other Establishment Data""; ""Classification of Intermediate Inputs""; ""SERVICES DATA""; ""OTHER DATA""; ""Sales of Goods and Services by Foreign Affiliates""; ""Direct Investment""; ""National Trade Data Bank""

""RECOMMENDATIONS""""3 Developing a Flexible Data System for U.S. International Economic Activities ""; ""CURRENT DATA""; ""ROLE OF STATISTICAL AGENCIES""; ""Strengthening Research and Analytic Capabilities""; ""Determining Data Needs""; ""Communicating Data Quality to Users""; ""RECOMMENDATIONS""; ""PART II IMPROVING DATA ON MERCHANDISE TRADE, INTERNATIONAL SERVICES TRANSACTIONS, AND CAPITAL FLOWS ""; ""4 Merchandise Trade ""; ""DATA ON MERCHANDISE TRADE: KEY FEATURES""; ""COLLECTION SYSTEM FOR MERCHANDISE TRADE DATA""; ""Exports""; ""Imports""; ""Census Bureau Processing""

""Quality Control""""Foreign Trade Division Computer Capabilities""; ""SHORTCOMINGS OF THE DATA SYSTEM""; ""Underreporting of Exports""; ""Inadequate Reporting of Data Quality""; ""Lack of Formal Data Management Procedures""; ""IMPROVED DATA QUALITY""; ""Improved Quality Control""; ""A Continuous Independent Review System""; ""A Multipurpose Port Audit Program""; ""Producer-User Interface""; ""Producer-Filer Interface""; ""Reporting Data Adjustments for Undercounts and Imputations""; ""Matrix Organization""; ""Long-Range Planning""; ""Increased Automation""; ""Accuracy""; ""Revisions""

""Timeliness""

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references (p. 267-284) and index.

ISBN:

9786610211784

9781280211782

1280211784

9780309556033

0309556031

9780585008400

058500840X

OCLC:

923267552