Data Sharing in the Federal Statistical System: Impediments and Possibilities

While federal agencies have engaged in data sharing for decades, current systems of exchange must be transformed to meet the growing needs of analysts in public policy, program evaluation, and basic research. Primary barriers to intra-agency data sharing include both perceived legal barriers and actual financial barriers. To address these problems, the potential path forward could include mandating data sharing for key sources, increasing transparency, and improving efficiency by making it easier for agencies to share data (including developing standards, templates, and incentives). We argue that an agency within the federal statistical system should serve as an intermediary for data integration across the federal statistical system and that the U.S. Census Bureau, with its experience and uniquely broad authority to seek data from any public or private entity for statistical purposes, is well positioned to fill this role.