based on an ordinal measure of feelings at the episode level. This
approach allows survey results to be used to compare U-indexes
across different countries and groups by income, gender, race, and
other characteristics. Krueger also suggested policymakers may be
Treasures
more comfortable minimizing a specific well-defined aspect of
from
social welfare (i.e., concept of misery) than maximizing a nebulous
concept of happiness. Reducing a “misery rate” is, for example,
the
analogous to reducing poverty—a clear policy objective.
ASA Archives
Measurement Programs
In discussion, Katharine Abraham—a University of Maryland pro-
fessor, CNSTAT member, and former BLS commissioner—noted
the work of Krueger and his colleagues has direct implications for
measurement programs residing within the statistical agencies and
should stimulate thinking about what may be possible in the area
Article from the 1888 issue of the of economic accounting and statistics. Most obviously, the work
Journal of the American Statistical
suggests new potential directions for the design of future modules
of the ATUS. For example, more information is needed about fac-
Association
tors that affect reported well-being; this may be done by includ-
ing “who with” categories that capture the effects of family and
social interaction, as well as sleep quality and disability questions.
Because the nature of activities (and enjoyment levels associated
with them) can change over time, more microdata and time-use
data are needed to advance national time accounting work.
CNSTAT Panel Report
Krueger’s work relates closely to “Beyond the Market: Designing
Nonmarket Accounts for the United States,” the 2005 report of
a CNSTAT panel chaired by Abraham on which Krueger served.
“Beyond the Market” takes up the topic of how to extend national
income and product accounting principles underlying measure-
ment of gross domestic product in ways that would be useful
to researchers and policymakers interested in developing broader
measures of how well the nation is doing. The national income
and product accounts (NIPAs) are focused on the production of
goods and services that are bought and sold, but they reveal rela-
tively little about important production in the home and other
areas outside markets. The report offers recommendations about
how satellite accounts—in such areas as health, education, the
care and nurturing of children, volunteer and home production
efforts, and environmental improvement, or pollution—could
be designed to contribute to understanding major issues, such as
economic growth and income determination. In all these areas,
time is an important input into the production process, and time,
itself, (particularly the amount of time a population is able to
spend in leisure and other enjoyable activities) provides an indica-
tion of social welfare.
The next CNSTAT seminar is scheduled for Friday, May
9, 2008. The theme will be “Past Accomplishments, Current
Work, and Future Challenges for the Use of Cognitive Methods
To visit the archive collection at Iowa
in Survey and Questionnaire Design.” CNSTAT’s 1984 report,
State University, go to www.lib.iastate. “Cognitive Aspects of Survey Methodology: Building a Bridge
edu/spcl/manuscripts/MS349.html. For more
Between Disciplines,” jumpstarted the field, and a seminar almost
information, email Special Collections at
25 years later is appropriate to highlight accomplishments and
stimulate research and development. Details are available at www.
spclref@iastate.edu or call (515) 294-6672.
nationalacademies.org/cnstat, or you may contact Senior Program
Officer Chris Mackie at
cmackie@nas.edu. n
22 AMSTAT NEWS MARCH 2008
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