Our Mission

The Office of the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs (OUSEA) delivers economic insights to policy and program decision-makers, evaluates programs for impact, strengthens our statistical system, and maximizes the value of data to promote growth and opportunity for all communities.  

Principal Responsibilities

Under the direction of the Secretary of Commerce, the Under Secretary for Economic Affairs carries out initiatives and duties, including: 

1.  Conduct robust and timely economic analysis so the Secretary and Bureaus can make better program and policy decisions 
2. Guide program evaluations to improve program efficacy and execute the Learning Agenda, Evidence Assessment, and Evaluation Plan 
3. Accelerate the value derived from Commerce data for driving intelligence within the Department, the whole of government, and our stakeholders nationwide.  
4. Strengthen our statistical agencies by promoting and defending scientific integrity and championing the needs of data users inside and outside of government.  

The duties of the Under Secretary's Office fall into broad categories—activities related to economic policy analysis and business development, directed by the Chief Economist and Deputy Chief Economist, and responsibilities related to the Federal Data Strategy and the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act of 2018 ("Evidence Act"), guided by the Department's Chief Data Officer, Statistical Official, and Evaluation Officer.

Connect with OUSEA on LinkedIn