The MIT Working Group on Services Offshoring, which has its administrative and intellectual base at the IPC, was formed in February 2005 to evaluate the data available for characterizing and measuring services offshoring and its effects on the United States economy, and to make recommendations for improvements. The rise of offshoring and global outsourcing has triggered waves of consternation in advanced economies about job loss and the degradation of capabilities that could spell the disappearance of entire national industries.

Our report, completed in July 2006, summarizes the recent debates triggered by increases in services offshoring, highlights the policy issues raised, makes three recommendations for improved data collection and research methods, and evaluates the usefulness of the direct measures of services offshoring that are currently available.