The Classification of Manufacturing Industries: an Input-Based Clustering of Activity
August 1990
Working Paper Number:
CES-90-07
Abstract
The classification and aggregation of manufacturing data is vital for the analysis and reporting of economic activity. Most organizations and researchers use the Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) system for this purpose. This is, however, not the only option. Our paper examines an alternative classification based on clustering activity using production technologies. While this approach yields results which are similar to the SIC, there are important differences between the two classifications in terms of the specific industrial categories and the amount of information lost through aggregation.
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manufacturing,
aggregation,
statistical,
industrial,
aggregate,
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cluster,
industrial classification,
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Standard Industrial Classification,
Longitudinal Research Database,
Office of Management and Budget,
Fabricated Metal Products
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