Comment on Article by Gates

I congratulate Jerry Gates on a lucid and important discussion of the role of privacy and confidentiality in sharing government data. He makes a strong case that increased and easier data sharing would improve the collection, estimation, and dissemination of federal data—which in turn would lead to better research and public policy—and that confidentiality concerns raise barriers to realizing those benefits. His suggestion for a multi-faceted approach based on legal reform, inter-agency cooperation, and methodological research is a solid path for finding ways to lower the barriers.