NEVA MAKGETLA: Cost of less reliable census data far greater than savings from cutting budget
More accurate understanding of population movements would improve government spending
17 October 2023 - 05:00
The national census provides critical information, from the size of the population and migration to housing and education. However, the 2022 response rate plummeted, largely due to steep budget cuts and the Covid-19 pandemic.
Stats SA provides improved estimates based on a large in-depth, post-census survey. Still, the costs to the government from less reliable data will undoubtedly far outweigh the short-run savings from cutting the statistics budget. ..
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