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In the recent epsiode of the amazing @cowenconvos, @Jeff_Holmes says to @tylercowen "I think it is still the case that 
can't do a census as there is such a cultural resistance" when discussing privacy.
This is not true.
Still, there is a fascinating story here. [1/7]
can't do a census as there is such a cultural resistance" when discussing privacy.This is not true.
Still, there is a fascinating story here. [1/7]
Since the first census in the Kingdom of Prussia in 1816 there have been many and regular iterations - during the German Customs Union (Zollverein), German Reich, Weimar Republic, GDR and Germany. After the most recent iteration in 2011, the next will be conducted in 2022. [2/7]
Today, for 's census some data is collected by surveys, some comes from local & national administrative registers. The 2011 census cost ~700m€ or ~8€ per capita. Compare this to the fully register-based of the 
in 2011, which cost ~1.4m€ or ~0.08€ per capita. [3/7]
's census some data is collected by surveys, some comes from local & national administrative registers. The 2011 census cost ~700m€ or ~8€ per capita. Compare this to the fully register-based of the in 2011, which cost ~1.4m€ or ~0.08€ per capita. [3/7]
To get to the efficiency of the , would need to move to a purely 'register-based census', that requires a modernization of registers. How this can be done without forfeiting privacy is now being debated, a discussion which goes back to the core of privacy concerns. [4/7]
, would need to move to a purely 'register-based census', that requires a modernization of registers. How this can be done without forfeiting privacy is now being debated, a discussion which goes back to the core of privacy concerns. [4/7]
In the constitutional ruling relating to personal information collected during the 1983 census, the court established "informationelle Selbstbestimmung" or 'informational self-determination', which is considered the very key to the German view on data protection [5/7]
constitutional ruling relating to personal information collected during the 1983 census, the court established "informationelle Selbstbestimmung" or 'informational self-determination', which is considered the very key to the German view on data protection [5/7]
Its is defined as "the authority of the individual to decide himself, on the basis of the idea of self-determination, when and within what limits information about his private life should be communicated to others." [6/7]
https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Entscheidungen/EN/1983/12/rs19831215_1bvr020983en.html
https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Entscheidungen/EN/1983/12/rs19831215_1bvr020983en.html
How administrative registers will ultimately be modernized and whether the 2031/32 census will be fully automated remains to be seen. However, in terms of efficiency, is a big step ahead of the 
: the 2010 U.S. census cost ~42 USD per capita. [7/7]
administrative registers will ultimately be modernized and whether the 2031/32 census will be fully automated remains to be seen. However, in terms of efficiency, is a big step ahead of the : the 2010 U.S. census cost ~42 USD per capita. [7/7]
