This file is part of IDEAS, which uses RePEc data


[ Papers | Articles | Software | Books | Chapters | Authors | Institutions | JEL Classification | NEP reports | Search | New papers by email | Author registration | Rankings | Volunteers | FAQ | Blog | Help! ]

The BLS Response to the Boskin Commission Report

Author info | Abstract | Publisher info | Download info | Related research | Statistics
Author Info
John S. Greenlees
Abstract

The author provides a BLS response to the Boskin Commission from the perspective of ten years following the release of the report. He documents the research on price indexes done at the BLS in the first half of the 1990s that pointed to upward CPI bias, and discusses how these results eventually lead to the appointment of the Boskin Commission in 1995. He also provides a detailed discussion of the methodological changes to the CPI made by the BLS between 1996 and 2002 in three areas corresponding to the categories of bias identified by the Commission: upper and lower level substitution bias, quality change and new products,and outlet bias. These changes included the introduction of a chained CPI (CCPI-U), the introduction of more hedonic models and the recognition of the need to use a product and outlet sample that was as representative as possible of current consumer spending patterns. He concludes that the Boskin Commission, by forcing the BLS to scrutinize the strengths and limitations of its CPI procedures and by highlighting and publicizing the budgetary impacts of the CPI, paved the way for various CPI improvements.

Download Info
To download:

If you experience problems downloading a file, check if you have the proper application to view it first. Information about this may be contained in the File-Format links below. In case of further problems read the IDEAS help file. Note that these files are not on the IDEAS site. Please be patient as the files may be large.

File URL: http://www.csls.ca/ipm/12/IPM-12-Greenlees-e.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function:
Download Restriction: no
File URL: http://www.csls.ca/ipm/12/IPM-12-Greenlees-f.pdf
File Format: application/pdf
File Function: version en français
Download Restriction: no

Publisher Info
Article provided by Centre for the Study of Living Standards in its journal International Productivity Monitor.

Volume (Year): 12 (2006)
Issue (Month): (Spring)
Pages: 23-41
Download reference. The following formats are available: HTML, plain text, BibTeX, RIS (EndNote), ReDIF
Handle: RePEc:sls:ipmsls:v:12:y:2006:3

Contact details of provider:
Postal: 111 Sparks Street, Ste. 500, Ottawa, ON K1P 5B5
Phone: 613-233-8891
Fax: 613-233-8250
Email:
Web page: http://www.csls.ca/
More information through EDIRC

Order Information:
Email:
Web: http://www.csls.ca

For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its listing, contact: (Jean-Francois Arsenault).

Related research
Keywords: United States Boskin Commission Boskin Measurement Prices Consumer Price Index CPI Bias CPI Bias Consumer Price Index Bias

Find related papers by JEL classification:
O47 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Growth and Aggregate Productivity - - - Measurement of Economic Growth; Aggregate Productivity; Cross-Country Output Convergence
O51 - Economic Development, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economywide Country Studies - - - U.S.; Canada
C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data
E31 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Prices, Business Fluctuations, and Cycles - - - Price Level; Inflation; Deflation
E61 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Policy Objectives; Policy Designs and Consistency; Policy Coordination
B41 - Schools of Economic Thought and Methodology - - Economic Methodology - - - Economic Methodology
C80 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - General
E65 - Macroeconomics and Monetary Economics - - Macroeconomic Policy, Macroeconomic Aspects of Public Finance, and General Outlook - - - Studies of Particular Policy Episodes

References listed on IDEAS
Please report citation or reference errors to , or , if you are the registered author of the cited work, log in to your RePEc Author Service profile, click on "citations" and make appropriate adjustments.:

  1. Moulton, Brent R, 1996. "Bias in the Consumer Price Index: What Is the Evidence?," Journal of Economic Perspectives, American Economic Association, vol. 10(4), pages 159-77, Fall. [Downloadable!] (restricted)
Full references

Statistics
Access and download statistics

Did you know? Apart from a small start up grant in the 1990's, RePEc has received no funding and lives on the help of volunteers.

This page was last updated on 2008-7-21.

This information is provided to you by IDEAS at the Department of Economics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, University of Connecticut using RePEc data on a server sponsored by the Society for Economic Dynamics.