OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Working Party (STESWP) Paris 25-27 June 2007

Agenda item: 13Agenda item: 13

DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED NATIONS GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS (BOTH DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS (BOTH

STRUCTURAL AND SHORT-TERM)STRUCTURAL AND SHORT-TERM)

Agenda item: 13Agenda item: 13

DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED NATIONS GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS (BOTH DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS (BOTH

STRUCTURAL AND SHORT-TERM)STRUCTURAL AND SHORT-TERM)

OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Working Party (STESWP)OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Working Party (STESWP)Paris Paris

25-27 June 200725-27 June 2007

AIMS OF THIS SESSIONAIMS OF THIS SESSIONAIMS OF THIS SESSIONAIMS OF THIS SESSION

• Focus will be on OECD assistance to UNSD on the Focus will be on OECD assistance to UNSD on the revision of existing international standards on revision of existing international standards on distributive trade statistics distributive trade statistics (EPH)(EPH)

• Start off with an overview of recent UN work on the Start off with an overview of recent UN work on the development of international statistical guidelinesdevelopment of international statistical guidelines

• Implications for future co-operation between Implications for future co-operation between STESWP and UNSD and other UN agenciesSTESWP and UNSD and other UN agencies

• Brief outline of modular approach to developing Brief outline of modular approach to developing international standardsinternational standards

WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?

• There are many types of international statistical There are many types of international statistical publicationspublications

• Often confusion with what is meant by terms: Often confusion with what is meant by terms: international statistical standard, international international statistical standard, international recommendations, guidelines, handbook or manualrecommendations, guidelines, handbook or manual

• UNSD prepared a taxonomy – UNSD prepared a taxonomy – Presented at Work Presented at Work session convened by Friends of the Chair (FROCH) session convened by Friends of the Chair (FROCH) Group on Integrated economic statistics in Bern on 6-8 Group on Integrated economic statistics in Bern on 6-8 June 2007June 2007

WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?

International statistical standards

An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics.integrating broad sets of statistics.

Should be internally coherent and consistent to the maximum extent Should be internally coherent and consistent to the maximum extent possible with other international statistical standards.possible with other international statistical standards.

International recommendations

An internationally agreed intermediate output framework consisting of an An internationally agreed intermediate output framework consisting of an agreed list of data items with agreed concepts, definitions and agreed list of data items with agreed concepts, definitions and classifications often for a well-defined statistical domain. classifications often for a well-defined statistical domain.

Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope.framework. Also often have a narrower scope.

Guidelines, handbooks and manuals

Contain data collection and compilation guidance based on best Contain data collection and compilation guidance based on best practices. Words “guidelines”, “manual”, “handbook” are used practices. Words “guidelines”, “manual”, “handbook” are used interchangeablyinterchangeably


International statistical standards

An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics.integrating broad sets of statistics.


International recommendations


Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope.framework. Also often have a narrower scope.

Guidelines, handbooks and manuals


From a UN perspective the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) has the authority to approve global standards and recommendations prepared by advisory committees, city groups, expert groups, etc.

From a UN perspective the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) has the authority to approve global standards and recommendations prepared by advisory committees, city groups, expert groups, etc.


International International statistical statistical standardsstandards

An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics.integrating broad sets of statistics.


International International recommendationsrecommendations


Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope.a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope.

Guidelines, Guidelines, handbooks and handbooks and manualsmanuals


e.g.

SNABPM

e.g.

SNABPM

e.g.International Recommendations for Industrial StatisticsInternational Recommendations for Distributive Trade

Statistics

e.g.International Recommendations for Industrial StatisticsInternational Recommendations for Distributive Trade

Statistics

e.g.Manual of Statistics on International Trade in

ServicesNational Accounts – A Practical Introduction

e.g.Manual of Statistics on International Trade in

ServicesNational Accounts – A Practical Introduction

WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?STATISTICAL GUIDELINES?

• An unstructured list of international standards was An unstructured list of international standards was prepared by UNSD for the Work session convened prepared by UNSD for the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007in June 2007

• A more comprehensive list is available at UNSD’s A more comprehensive list is available at UNSD’s Methodological Publications in StatisticsMethodological Publications in Statistics website - website - Created at the request of the UNSC in 1999Created at the request of the UNSC in 1999

[http://unstats.un.org/unsd/progwork/pwabout.asp]

RECENT UN WORK ON DEVELOPMENT OF RECENT UN WORK ON DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND

GUIDELINESGUIDELINES

RECENT UN WORK ON DEVELOPMENT OF RECENT UN WORK ON DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND


• International recommendations on distributive International recommendations on distributive trade statisticstrade statistics

• SNA update / revision SNA update / revision

• International recommendations for industrial International recommendations for industrial statisticsstatistics

• International recommendations on distributive International recommendations on distributive trade statisticstrade statistics

• SNA update / revision SNA update / revision

• International recommendations for industrial International recommendations for industrial statisticsstatistics

IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE CO-IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE CO-OPERATION BETWEEN STESWP AND UN OPERATION BETWEEN STESWP AND UN

AGENCIESAGENCIES• Since the inception of STESWP there has been close co-Since the inception of STESWP there has been close co-

operation / co-ordination of further improvement of co-operation / co-ordination of further improvement of co-operation with Eurostatoperation with Eurostat

• Not so close with UN agencies – Not so close with UN agencies – UNSD becoming more UNSD becoming more active in the revision of international standards / active in the revision of international standards / recommendations at a global levelrecommendations at a global level

• OECD has been invited to participate in various UN expert OECD has been invited to participate in various UN expert groups working on specific standardsgroups working on specific standards

• Provides opportunity for STESWP to members to provide Provides opportunity for STESWP to members to provide comment, etc., into the evolution of these standardscomment, etc., into the evolution of these standards

• However, need to ensure that it does not duplicate national However, need to ensure that it does not duplicate national inputsinputs

MODULAR APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF MODULAR APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS,

RECOMMENDATIONS, MANUALS / HANDBOOKS / RECOMMENDATIONS, MANUALS / HANDBOOKS /





• There are often considerable overlaps between components There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classificationsconcepts; definitions; and classifications

• Modular approach should be extended to some of the Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation HandbookOECD Presentation Handbook

• Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 20072007
















On issues such as:•Presentation of growth rates•Seasonal adjustment•Revisions•Presentation of metadata•Presentation of sapling & non-sampling errors

On issues such as:•Presentation of growth rates•Seasonal adjustment•Revisions•Presentation of metadata•Presentation of sapling & non-sampling errors

Standards / guidelines for:•the services sector•turnover

Standards / guidelines for:•the services sector•turnover

Thank you for your Thank you for your attention !attention !

Documents

OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Working Party (STESWP) Paris 25-27 June 2007