The census is the catalyst of American public policy. It shapes voting districts and determines how public schools will get funded. Because this data is used in myriad democratic and economic functions, it's critical that we get it right. Unfortunately, the 2020 Edition might be in trouble, which has caused concern among experts for the integrity of the country's most authoritative data set. The census is centuries old, but this story starts at the conclusion of the 2010 census. The Bureau had exceeded cost estimates, making it the most expensive census per capita of all time. In 1970, it cost $16 to count each housing unit, while in 2010, it cost around $92 to count each housing unit (all in 2020 dollars). Robert Goldenkoff's office redid the 2020 census and included it on the list of government initiatives at a high risk of failure. A key reason for this is the lack of funding. Congress limited the budget for the 2020 census to the amount spent on the 2010 census. The nation is getting more complex and less willing to participate in the census. Because the Constitution requires a complete count, the Census Bureau has to do more work in order to obtain that complete count. This is why it may cost more to count certain groups. For example, an episode of "Master of None" provides some clues. It follows a cab driver back to his apartment where he's living with at least three other adult men. This one apartment contains four distinct households. In New York City, a region notorious for being hard to count, there are tracks designated as hard to count for various reasons. They could be full of renters or have an abundant homeless population. Topographically complex regions are also difficult to count, as well as tracks with limited...