• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.101-132
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• 2008

This paper discusses transformation of the US population census since 1990 and its future prospects by mentioning the 2000 census experience and the 2010 census plans. First, it examines the recommendations written for the 2000 census by the Committee on National Statistics, National Research Council, such as introduction of statistical estimation, response rate improvement, long form improvement, adjustment in differential undercount by race/ethnicity, alternative census methods, collection of small-area statistics in non-census years, and census frame enhancement, and describes how the US Supreme Court decision of 1998 led the Census Bureau to fail in conducting the US version of One Number Census which uses statistical estimation by matching actual enumerations from the Census main survey and post-enumeration survey. Second, it examines one key element of the 2010 U. S. census, say, the separation of long form from short form and describes the main features of American Community Survey, a rolling census which replaces long-form component of the traditional US "Decennial Census" Another element is MAF/TIGER Enhancement Program which aims to improve enumeration accuracy in the traditional short-form census and help the Census Bureau introduce a mobile computer system as part of high-tech census operation. In this paper, it is pointed out that the separation of long form from short form is not an accidental one which results from the US Supreme Court decision, but the Census Bureau at this time in 2008 worries about the accuracy of enumeration because it has failed to develop a mobile computer system and will have to canvass 115 million households by paper and pencil by hiring 600 thousand temporary census workers.