MPC Member Publications

This database contains a listing of population studies publications written by MPC Members. Anyone can add a publication by an MPC student, faculty, or staff member to this database; new citations will be reviewed and approved by MPC administrators.

Full Citation

Title: "It's None of Their Damn Business": Privacy and Disclosure Control in the U.S. Census, 1790-2020

Citation Type: Journal Article

Publication Year: 2023

ISSN: 0098-7921

DOI: 10.1111/PADR.12580

PMID: 37928237

Abstract: The U.S. Census has grappled with public concerns about privacy since the first enumeration in 1790. Beginning in the mid-nineteenth century, census officials began responding to concerns about privacy with promises of confidentiality. In recent years, escalating concerns about confidentiality have threatened to reduce the usability of publicly accessible population data. This paper traces the history of privacy and disclosure control since 1790. We argue that controlling public access to census information has never been an effective response to public concerns about government intrusion. We conclude that the Census Bureau should weigh the costs of curtailing access to reliable data against realistic measures of the benefit of new approaches to disclosure control.

Url: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37928237/

User Submitted?: No

Authors: Ruggles, Steven; Magnuson, Diana L.

Periodical (Full): Population and development review

Issue: 3

Volume: 49

Pages:

Countries:

IPUMS NHGIS NAPP IHIS ATUS Terrapop