Panel Remarks: Measuring Business Innovation Using a Multidimensional Approach

Advancing the US Census Bureau’s mission “to serve as the nation’s leading provider of quality data about its people and economy” requires a robust and agile research and development program working in close collaboration with external experts and Census Bureau programmatic staff. Even straightforward concepts, such as the use of industrial robotics in manufacturing, can require a multidimensional measurement approach. While the Census Bureau is known for its surveys, some of our most innovative work combines survey data with administrative data or combines multiple sources of administrative data. In this brief chapter, I discuss the multidimensional research and development approach the Center for Economic Studies (CES) at the Census Bureau takes in attempting to better understand business innovation. Since it is not possible to provide details on these many interrelated efforts, I highlight our multidimensional approach by giving examples of research using administrative data, survey data, and indirect inference. A more complete view of CES research activities is provided in our annual reports and working paper series.