Proxy Measures
What is a Proxy Measure? A proxy is an indirect measure of the desired outcome which is itself strongly correlated to that outcome. It is commonly used when direct measures of the outcome are unobservable and/or unavailable. An organization should use a proxy measure when there is little or no data available about the program being implemented, but the outcome the program is designed to influence has an existing and commonly accepted proxy.
| This Measure | Is a Proxy for | And can be found |
|---|---|---|
| Gross Domestic Product (GDP) | Quality of Life, Standard of Living | Department of Commerce: Bureau of Economic Analysis has GDP by state & metropolitan statistical area |
| Unemployment Rate | Economy, Labor Market | Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes regular updates to employment, unemployment and wage data. |
| Air Quality Index (AQI) | Environmental Quality | The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) publishes Air Quality data by city and county. |
| Infant Deaths (Mortality) | Maternal, Infant & Child Health | The CDC publishes Linked Birth and Infant Death Data with links to local public health agencies |
| Obesity Rates | Health & Well-being of a community | The CDC publishes Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity: Data, Trends and Maps which can be viewed at the state and city level for many cities |
| Homicide Rates | Public Safety | Local jurisdictions are the best source for the most current crime data, but the FBI publishes annual reports. |
| Reading & Math Proficiency Levels | Education Quality | The National Center for Education Statistics publishes proficiency scores on standardized tests for many participating jurisdictions. |
| General Fund Personnel and Operating Expenses per Capita, FTEs per 1,000 population | Government Operations & Management | Personnel Costs, Operating Costs, and FTE counts are usually available in government budget documents, and population is available through the US Census Bureau |