The unece organizes with the financial support of the World Bank

“Process of policy development is lengthy

• “Process of policy development is lengthy

• Research and analysis required to understand when and where policy change and reform are needed
• Designing policy
• Developing consensus (political, public)

• We rely on high quality and timely data throughout the process”

“Identify and close data gaps

• “Identify and close data gaps

• Priority to long term issues and trends

• But there is a need to be able to adapt to current developments, if possible

• Identify turning points

• Consult users

• Government, private sector, researchers”

In assessing economic development

• In assessing economic development

• In designing financial and monetary policy decisions

• In making investment decisions

Don Drummond, Chief Economist of Toronto Dominion Bank, Canada, opening the International Seminar, mentioned above:

• Don Drummond, Chief Economist of Toronto Dominion Bank, Canada, opening the International Seminar, mentioned above:

• "I would rather have no data than wrong data."

…with the central users of Short-term economic statistics

• …with the central users of Short-term economic statistics

• A great deal of trust for Canadian Statistics was expressed in the services of Statistics Canada on STS

• At the same time, the following improvements were required:

Other issues that came up in this consultation with the main stakeholders:

• Other issues that came up in this consultation with the main stakeholders:

• A worry that a NSO should not rush into short-term data collection without the usual testing of the instrument

Short-term economic statistics ARE important and their importance is growing

• Short-term economic statistics ARE important and their importance is growing

• Not only as a service item
• But also for building up the image and the reputation of the statistical agency as an important, accurate and timely information provider

• Identifying turning points in the economic cycle is one of the most important functions

• Availability and comparability of long term time series and seasonal adjustment of fixed term indices are of top importance

• Keep your users well informed about your services

• Understand your audiences’ specific needs by better communication

STS Compilation with Multiple Data Sources

• Anu Peltola Economic Statistics Section, UNECE

Overview

• Data collection

• Sampling
• Administrative data
• Combining multiple data sources

• Compilation of results

• Data editing
• Non-response and weighting
• Treatment of non-comparable changes

• Publication

• Improvement

Theoretical Concept – A Key to Good Quality

• Define the purpose of an indicator

• Links to the real world

• What should it describe?
• Who are the users/uses (internal/external)?
• Possible data sources

• Links to other statistics

• Differences in concepts, scope, methods
• Goal variables – national accounts/SBS
• Regular benchmarking
• Follow-up of differences

Production Process

• Bring the collected data to the level of the intended statistical output!

Data Collection Statistical Units

• Corner stones of business statistics

• Legal unit -> enterprise (services) -> enterprise groups
• Establishment (for industry/construction)

• Business registers are fundamentally important

• Bridge between administrative and statistical units
• The economic activity class (ISIC/NACE)
• Improve its comprehensiveness – use as a frame
• Examine opportunities to use administrative data
• Interactive: update with information from STS

System of Statistics

Give clear instructions

• Give clear instructions

• Explain the concepts to the respondents

• Revisions to earlier months

• Aim to pre-fill the questionnaire with data given earlier
• Leave space for reporting revisions

• Always test changes to questionnaires

• Inform the respondents of the use of data

• Develop useful feedback for respondents

• your company compared to others in the same activity

Many surveys are for units above a size threshold

• Many surveys are for units above a size threshold

• Burdensome and problems with the coverage of small units
•