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How Long Is a Piece of Elastic? The Measurement of Female Activity Rates in British Censuses, 1951-1981

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  • Joshi, Heather
  • Owen, Susan

Abstract

The regular British Working Population data cover the employed plus registered unemployed. Conventional definitions include unregistered job search that is observed at the decennial Census of Population, but inferring comparable time series of female economic activity rates from these data is not straightforward since the recording method altered each time. The authors adjust the census information in the light of other contemporary sources to present a series of decennial female activity rates by age group, "less inconsistent" with the definition adopted by the EEC Labour Force Survey, likely to be the most regular source in future. The revised series makes the longer-run upward trend appear smoother than the crude data would suggest. Copyright 1987 by Oxford University Press.

Suggested Citation

  • Joshi, Heather & Owen, Susan, 1987. "How Long Is a Piece of Elastic? The Measurement of Female Activity Rates in British Censuses, 1951-1981," Cambridge Journal of Economics, Oxford University Press, vol. 11(1), pages 55-74, March.
  • Handle: RePEc:oup:cambje:v:11:y:1987:i:1:p:55-74
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