GAO REPORT SPELLS OUT OPTIONS FOR A SYSTEM OF INDICATORS TO HELP NATION ASSESS ITS POSITION AND PROGRESS
Washington, D.C., November 10 In a report issued today, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) sets forth options for Congress to consider in establishing a system of key national indicators. GAO envisions an independent, web-based comprehensive key national indicator system with the nation's best quality data that would allow the public, the media, policymakers, government, and non-government institutions to better understand and assess the position and progress of the United States, both on an absolute basis as well as compared to other nations. Such a system would cover traditional areas of American life and public debate such as the economy, society and culture, and the environment. It would eventually include information on more complex topics such as socio-economic mobility, opportunity, competitiveness, equity, or sustainability. In its report (GAO-05-1), GAO finds that a number of indicator systems already exist from local to national levels, attempting to measure how we are really doing and compared to what. A clearinghouse of these key indicator systems can be found at www.keyindicators.org for use by those interested in indicator systems or who wish to these information resources to enhance their perspectives on American society as a whole. Currently, a broad consortium of over 200 leading institutions and individuals from across the country--led by the National Academies and coordinating with governmental entities-is working to produce a test version a "State of the USA" product sometime in the next year. There is also wide international interest in national indicators: representatives from 43 nations are currently participating in the first World Indicators Forum in Palermo, Italy, November 10-13 (www.oecd.org/worldforum). GAO's report on key national indicators, Informing Our Nation: Improving How to Understand and Assess the USA's Position and Progress, can be found on GAO's website at www.gao.gov/cgi-bin/getrpt?GAO-05-1. For more information, contact Christopher Hoenig, managing director, strategic issues, 202-512-6779 or [EMAIL PROTECTED] =========================================================== This list is produced by the Government Accountability Office to provide daily information about GAO Reports and Testimony. Access GAO on the web at http://www.gao.gov =========================================================== This list is produced by the Government Accountability Office to provide daily information about GAO Reports and Testimony. Access GAO on the web at http://www.gao.gov
