Classification by Race and Spanish Origin in the 1980 Census and its Impact on White and Nonwhite Rates

A basic change in 1980 census procedures is examined for its impact on white and nonwhite population counts.and the rates computed with such counts.for several urban areas.The change, which affected the racial classification of persons of Spanish origin, had its greatest impact on data for central cities in the southwestern United States, but its consequences for Chicago and New York City figures were also substantial.Arrest rates by race for central city Phoenix together with 1980 census data by race and ethnicity for Phoenix and 11 other central cities are used to illustrate the substantive effect of changes in the white and .other race. counts produced by this change in procedure.Remedies for the problems faced by those using published census data are examined, and one possibility for creating comparable rates is presented.Closely related complications created by the failure of the Office of Management and Budget to arrive at a single, logical statistical standard for the classification of U.S. residents by race and ethnicity are also identified.