**GAO-11-874**                      Published: Sep 30, 2011. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2011.                  

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## Highlights

The Census Bureau (Bureau) and U.S. Postal Service (USPS) collaborated on aspects of the 2010 Census and prior decennials, and those efforts generally went well in such areas as address list development. But both agencies face challenges: the Bureau needs to control the escalating cost of the decennial census and maintain its accuracy, while USPS must improve its financial condition. As requested, GAO examined opportunities to enhance collaboration in such areas as technology, personnel, and facilities that could improve the cost-effectiveness of the 2020 Census and generate revenue for USPS. GAO analyzed Bureau and USPS data and documents, compared the agencies' existing collaborative efforts with prior GAO work, and interviewed agency officials.

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## Topics

Government Operations

AccountabilityCensusCost analysisCost effectiveness analysisEmployeesFinancial analysisHousingMailing listsPostal servicePostal service employeesStrategic planning