Statistical Data Available for Economic Research on Certain Types of Recreation

Abstract

Recreation is an ill-defined human activity; yet, by any reasonable definition, it is an important and rapidly growing one. Economists, statisticians, and other social scientists have given it comparatively little professional attention. Relatively large bodies of statistical material exist, mostly as a by-product of administrative, informational, or public relations activities. The form of publication of these data has not made their analysis easy. Definitional and conceptual problems plague the whole field. Yet it is a potentially rich one for the statistician and other researchers; interesting and significant problems abound, and the practical utility of research would likely be high. A primary purpose of this article has been to call these opportunities to the attention of readers of JASA.

* This paper was prepared to supplement statistics on recreation in the forthcoming new edition of Historical Statistics of the United States compiled under the joint sponsorship of the Bureau of the Census and the Social Science Research Council.

Notes

* This paper was prepared to supplement statistics on recreation in the forthcoming new edition of Historical Statistics of the United States compiled under the joint sponsorship of the Bureau of the Census and the Social Science Research Council.