An online information system for aggregate state and local area economic data

This article describes the design and development of the Kentucky Economic Information System. This system, which is the first of its particular type, is a public computer‐based data storage, retrieval, display, and analysis facility that has been developed in order to make aggregate economic data pertaining primarily to the state of Kentucky readily available to and easily usable by a wide variety of people. The system is currently resident on two separate computer networks and is accessible via a telecommunications terminal over an ordinary telephone line, as well as through local modes of access. The system consists of three integrated components: an extensive data‐base; software to permit storage, retrieval, analysis, and display of the data; and a user manual which not only explains how to use the system, but also provides detailed descriptions of the data, in terms of concepts, collection or construction methodology, and reliability. This article discusses the various considerations that underlie the design of the system, describes the system's present characteristics, briefly evaluates the development of the system, and points out how this system provides a prototype for the development of other economic database systems.