Following the publication of "Social Indicators, 1973", a review symposium met to discuss and evaluate the potential utility of the document. The articles in this book present the essence of the commentary at the symposium. Section 1 identifies the themes in the symposium discussions and provides an overview of the proceedings. Sections 2 and 3 place the publication of national reports on basic social conditions. Comparisons are made between the social trends publications of Sweden, Norway, France, England, West Germany, and the United States. Section 4 reviews the statistical and methodological problems and procedures in such a large data collection of social indicators. A list of symposium participants and a comprehensive list of references cited in the four articles concludes the book. (Author/DE)