Last week, China deployed six million workers for a 10-day effort to count the country's population. A surge in citizens relocating from rural to urban areas makes the task difficult, reports the Economist.
Many of the estimated 145 million Chinese who move from the countryside to cities for more than six months of the year are hesitant to report their change of location, hoping to avoid bureaucratic measures and potential fees involved in registering a new address. The issue also impacted China's last census in 2000, as internal state control of migration first loosened. The Economist says the situation will likely lead to an undercount of the country's population, which was approximately 1.33 billion at the end of 2009.
Despite methodological approaches intended to account for migrants, the official results--to be made public in April--will no doubt be controversial, says the Economist:
"In this census, migrants will be counted both in their home town and in their new city so that figures can be cross-checked. Foreigners will be included for the first time. But academics say census data are still being moulded to fit official projections."
Read the full story: The world's biggest headcount
Republicans are Pushing to Make the American Community Survey Voluntary. History Shows That’s a Death Sentence for Data.
A voluntary survey will make demographic data “less accurate, less available, and less useful” — and for some rural communities, “a total blackout.”
US Census Releases Most Accurate, Granular Housing Data Yet
A new measurement tool eliminates the inaccuracies that have plagued data about housing supply, helping governments more clearly understand how housing policies are impacting local needs.
Detroit and Michigan on the Upswing
It's been 66 years since the Motor City last grew its population. Census data released last month revealed an increase of nearly 2,000 people last year, nearly half the state's population growth.
Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.
Eastern Nebraska is running out of electricity
Data centers and electrification are straining eastern Nebraska’s grid, throttling economic development.
Study reveals best places in the U.S. for cycling, walking
New research from Streetlight Data examines bicycle and pedestrian miles per capita in the 100 largest U.S. cities by population.
DSA members accuse Mamdani of 'abandoning values' over housing redevelopment
New York City's mayor plans to replace about 2,000 units of public housing with private, mixed-income housing.
All sides of BRT debate unhappy with CDOT’s most recent move
The Colorado Department of Transportation is no longer considering center-running bus lanes for Colorado Boulevard.
Massachusetts bogs generate both power, and cranberries
Putting solar panels above farmland is one way Massachusetts is advancing toward its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
FREE Course: Walkable City 1: Why Walkability?
After describing his path towards focusing on walkability as the essence of good planning, Jeff Speck marches through his five principal reasons for making more walkable places.
Reinventing Malls: Planning Alchemy—Turning Gray Fields Into Gold
The course focuses on the opportunities and imperatives that shape reinvention of mall sites.
City of Rosemead
Rutgers University, Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy
One Hundred Miles
University of Michigan School for Environment and Sustainability (SEAS)
Hunter College, City University of New York (CUNY)
The Architects Foundation
City of Cambridge
The Pocatello Development Authority
The Urban Renewal Agency of the City of Pocatello