Information Collected by Commercial Companies: What Might be of Value to Official Statistics? The Case of the UK Office for National Statistics

Abstract:     
This report investigates whether information collected by large commercial companies about their customers might have value to the UK’s Office for National Statistics. ONS’s focus is on information which may improve: Population Estimates: providing evidence of current numbers and types of migrants, both inward and outward, and movement between areas. 2011 Census: resource targeting for fieldwork coverage, chasing non-responses, and quality assuring the results. Beyond 2011, as more use is made of administrative files, commercial records may also help the development of an integrated population system.

Number of Pages in PDF File: 43

working papers series