Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves addressed the Economists Roundtable in Puerto Rico on September 9, 2024, hosted by the Association of Economists of Puerto Rico. Graves emphasized the importance of advancing economic measurement and building statistical capacity through the newly established Federal Statistical Research Data Center (FSRDC) in Puerto Rico.
"People often think of the Department of Commerce as the Department of Business, but we’re much more than that. We’re the Department of data, science, technology, people, and communities," Graves stated.
He highlighted that day-to-day funding and public policy decisions rely heavily on data collected from the Census Bureau. For Puerto Rico, policymakers and key stakeholders often face a lack of comprehensive data about the island's population and economy.
"There’s been a lot of deep interest in obtaining equitable access to measures and statistics for Puerto Rico and the FSRDC is an affirming step in the right direction," he noted.
Graves pointed out that demographic and socioeconomic data are crucial for evidence-driven decisions. However, challenges such as outdated standards, methodology, technical capacity, and data practices hinder data collection in Puerto Rico. Unlike states which provide necessary data inputs to national statistics, Puerto Rico struggles due to issues with data quality or availability.
Both federal and local stakeholders have shown significant interest in achieving equitable access to measures and statistics comparable to those produced for stateside regions.
"When President Biden established the Puerto Rico Economic Dialogue in 2021, we developed four pillars with concrete actions and deliverables that the Census Bureau has played a huge role in," Graves explained. The four pillars include strengthening human capital and workforce development; investing in infrastructure; building a diversified economy; and improving governance and data—with FSRDC being critical to this fourth pillar.
Graves elaborated that access to FSRDC data will enhance statistical capacity on the island, enabling local officials, industry leaders, and third-sector entities to make informed decisions. It will also allow academics to explore previously unanswerable research questions.
"The Puerto Rico FSRDC will play a crucial role in enhancing statistical capacity on the island," he reiterated. As part of a network comprising 33 other centers across the United States, PR FSRDC aims to deepen understanding of both mainland U.S. populations and its territories.
Graves concluded his remarks by expressing his anticipation for productive discussions at the roundtable.
