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Costing a Data Revolution - Working Paper 383

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  • Gabriel Demombynes and Justin Sandefur

Abstract

AThe lack of reliable development statistics for many poor countries has led the U.N. to call for a “data revolution” (United Nations, 2013). One fairly narrow but widespread interpretation of this revolution is for international aid donors to fund a coordinated wave of household surveys across the developing world, tracking progress on a new round of post-2015 Sustainable Development Goals. We use data from the International Household Survey Network (IHSN) to show (i) the supply of household surveys has accelerated dramatically over the past 30 years and that (ii) demand for survey data appears to be higher in democracies and more aid-dependent countries. We also show that given existing international survey programs, the cost to international aid donors of filling remaining survey gaps is manageable--on the order of $300 million per year. We argue that any aid-financed expansion of household surveys should be complemented with (a) increased access to data through open data protocols, and (b) simultaneous support for the broader statistical system, including routine administrative data systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Gabriel Demombynes and Justin Sandefur, 2014. "Costing a Data Revolution - Working Paper 383," Working Papers 383, Center for Global Development.
    • Handle: RePEc:cgd:wpaper:383
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    File URL: http://www.cgdev.org/publication/costing-data-revolution
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    Cited by:

    1. Kilic,Talip & Serajuddin,Umar & Uematsu,Hiroki & Yoshida,Nobuo & Kilic,Talip & Serajuddin,Umar & Uematsu,Hiroki & Yoshida,Nobuo, 2017. "Costing household surveys for monitoring progress toward ending extreme poverty and boosting shared prosperity," Policy Research Working Paper Series 7951, The World Bank.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    household surveys; national statistics; open data; aid; Sustainable Development goals;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • C82 - Mathematical and Quantitative Methods - - Data Collection and Data Estimation Methodology; Computer Programs - - - Methodology for Collecting, Estimating, and Organizing Macroeconomic Data; Data Access
    • F35 - International Economics - - International Finance - - - Foreign Aid
    • O10 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - General

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