Statistical Agencies: A Comparison of the U.S. and Canadian Statistical Systems

Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO compared the decentralized federal statistical system to Canada's centralized statistical system, focusing on differences in the: (1) systems' organizational and budget structures; (2) systems' legal frameworks that govern privacy concerns, data confidentiality, and data sharing; and (3) position and authority of the chief statisticians of the United States and Canada.