It is more so in China, where even Chinese economists concede that many refinements will be needed in the years to come to improve data collection methods.

And economists concede that in the initial stages of reform unemployment would rise painfully.

Even the most optimistic economists concede that Japan's retail environment is "challenging."

For more than 20 years, however, officials and economists have conceded that its industry was becoming increasingly obsolescent, with growth rates reduced and stagnation setting in.

But the price of this victory was acquiescence on air toxics regulation, which many environmental economists privately concede will be about as cost-effective as the Pentagon's $600 toilet seats.

Meanwhile, Mr. Bush's economists concede that his tax plan will reduce the surplus by $1.6 trillion.

But economists concede that they underestimated the current increase in exports and the strength of the sector's recovery.

And earlier this week, an economist testifying for Microsoft, Kevin M. Murphy, conceded that virtually all of his antitrust research had been financed by Microsoft.

Despite an elaborate price-setting system, many Soviet economists concede the nation's inflation rate is probably 6 or 7 percent.

Most economists concede they are not really sure what slowed productivity growth.