Labor Market Data Needs Relating to Antidiscrimination Activity: Comment

Abstract

[Excerpt] Barbara Bergmann's background paper divides data needs in the antidiscrimination area into data that would be useful in the formulation of national policy and data that would be useful as an aid in enforcing the laws and executive orders against discrimination. Although the former are likely to be of greatest concern to the commission, she has performed a valuable service by discussing these interrelated needs in one place. I find much to agree with, and very little to disagree with or question, in her paper. The presentation is, in the main, an objective one and she tempers her desire for new and better data throughout by judgmentally weighing the benefits she perceives will accrue from the data against their likely cost. Presentation of estimates of the cost of the new data she recommends would aid the reader to draw his or her own conclusion about their value and I hope that the commission's staff can provide the commission with such estimates.