R E P O R T 
         
         
                           
                           
                           
                           
           Benefit of Legal Metrology 
          for the Economy and Society 
         
         
         
         
                     John Birch A.M. 
                   CIML Honorary Member  
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                     A study for the 
             International Committee of Legal Metrology 
         
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
          
              The purpose of studying economics is to avoid being deceived by 
              economists 
               Joan Robinson 
                    Prof. Economics, Cambridge Univ. (1965-1971) 
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              
              And still they come, new from those nations to which the 
              study of that which can be weighed and measured is a consuming love 
           W.H. Auden (1935) 
          
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                             Contents 
                           
          About the Author ................................................................................................... 4 
           
          Preface .................................................................................................................... 5 
           
          Abbreviations ......................................................................................................... 6 
           
          Foreword ................................................................................................................ 7 
           
          1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 9 
           
          2. Metrology in the Twentieth Century ................................................................ 11 
           
          3. The National Measurement System ................................................................. 13 
           
          4. Benefits of Legal Metrology to the Economy .................................................. 16 
           
          5. Benefits of Legal Metrology to Society ........................................................... 20 
           
          6. Reviewing the Literature .................................................................................. 21 
           
          7. Economics of Metrology .................................................................................. 25 
           
          8. Quantifying the Economic Benefits of Legal Metrology  ................................ 38 
           
          9. Developing Countries ...................................................................................... 41 
           
          10. Conclusion...................................................................................................... 44 
           
          Attachment 1 Bibliography .................................................................................. 45 
           
          Attachment 2 Review of the Literature ................................................................ 53 
           
          Attachment 3 Glossary of Economic Terms ........................................................ 78 
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                    About the Author 
         
         
         
             John Birch was Executive Director of the Australian 
             National Standards Commission from 1986 to 2000 and 
             represented Australia on the CIML for that period. He was 
             a member of the CIML Presidential Council from 1990 to 
             2000 and was appointed a Member of Honour of CIML in 
             2001. 
              
             In 1994 John Birch was instrumental in establishing the 
             Asia Pacific Legal Metrology Forum (APLMF) and was 
             Foundation President of APLMF from 1994 to 2001. He 
             was appointed an Honorary Member of APLMF in 2001 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
              All Correspondence should be addressed to the author: 
                           
                       John Birch, 
                      42 Alexandra St. 
                       Hunters Hill 
                       Australia 2110 
                           
                     Tel/Fax 61 2 9816 1794 
                    E-mail jabirch@bigpond.com 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
                               Copyright © 2003, John Birch  
         
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