Interchangeability of the ratio and product methods in sample surveys

The paper demonstrates the interchangeability of the ratio and product methods of estimation i n sample surveys through translati n g the unbiased estimator of the population total of the auxiiart variate (or the study varia te). The values of the translation parameters minimizing the mean squared error are obtained. The allowable departures from this optimum, which still ensure a reduction in the mean squared error, as compared to the traditional case, are indicated.