The paper is an attempt to trace some of the early developments of small area estimation. The basic papers such as the ones by Fay and Herriott (1979) and Battese, Harter and Fuller (1988) and their follow-ups are discussed in some details. Some of the current topics are also discussed.

Small area estimation methods have become a widely used tool to provide accurate estimates for regional indicators such as poverty measures. Recent research has provided evidence that spatial modelling still can improve the precision of regional and local estimates. In this paper, we provide an...

For the last several decades, the US Census Bureau has been applying AK composite estimation method for estimating monthly levels and month-to-month changes in unemployment using data from the Current Population Survey (CPS), which uses a rotating panel design. For each rotation group,...