TRADE MICRODATA: OECD PERSPECTIVES

Dominique GuellecHead, Trade and Business Statistics

Statistics Directorate

Main messagesIn order to map and understand trade flows in an era of

globalisation (GVCs etc.) we need to capture the micro, business-level dimension of trade = who trades?

The TEC exercise has proved a very efficient and cost effective way of advancing in that direction: it needs to be pursued and broadened.

- The TEC database- Trade microdata Handbook- Future perspective

The TEC database

Trade by Enterprise Characteristics (TEC) database

ContextTEC is a joint OECD-Eurostat exercise.Dataset are compiled by linking micro data (data at trader level) with business registers. Under guidance of the OECD Steering Group “Business Economic Statistics and Trade (BEST)”, a first OECD set of Linkage Tables was sent out to participating Non-EU-OECD member countries in June 2007.

Structure5 datasets displaying imports/exports by ISIC industry (or group of industry) in terms of value (M$) and numbers of enterprises :I. Trade by size class II. Trade by top enterprisesIII. Trade by partner zones and countriesIV. Trade by number of partner countriesV. Trade by commodities (CPC)

ContentUp to now, OECD has received tables from Canada, the United States, Norway and Israel. In addition to that, Eurostat provided OECD with the respective (published) data tables of 19 EU member states:

– EU countries 2005,2006,2007– Canada 2003, 2006,2007,2008 exports– USA 2003, 2005 (exports)– Israel 2006,2007,2008 (exports)– Norway 2003,2005,2006,2007 (aggregated data)– Expected soon: Australia, Brazil

Comparability – EU countries trade data are reported either for Intra-EU or for extra-EU, no

Total trade as the other countries, the perimeter of these zones evolves with the time (EU25, EU27)

– For the majority of the countries (except Canada), data are not longitudinal series

TEC database

Accessibility: DotStat

TEC database

Handbook for trade microdata

HANDBOOK FOR TRADE MICRODATA

The Handbook will be a joint OECD-Eurostat endeavour (Eurostat is currently preparing a highly practical “compilers’ guide” for EU countries).

• Objective: – Understand the relevance of matching

microdata with trade data – Review the main methodological issues– Present the TEC database

• Target Audience:– Statisticians and data compilers– Policy analysts (trade, industry)

HANDBOOK FOR TRADE MICRODATA

Proposed contents:• The need of matching databases

– The relevance of matching BR with other databases to understand economic microstructure and address policy relevant issues

• Technical issues:– Matching firm level data with trade statistics– Sources of trade data and population coverage– International comparability

• Data description (and analysis) – TEC content and organisation– Descriptive statistics

HANDBOOK FOR TRADE MICRODATA

Tentative Calendar:

• End of January: first draft OECD/Eurostat

• February: discussion with the TEC Group

• April: presentation at the TEC meeting for discussion and adoption

Future perspectives on trade microdata

Strengthening the quality of the data

• Continue this highly successful exercise

• Improve comparability (e.g. establishment v. enterprise)

• Intra-EU trade v. extra-EU trade• Bring in new countries

Making more with the dataTrade microdata are a unique tool to

explore key policy questions:– What is the impact of the economic

downturn on trade? (intensive/extensive margin)

– What is the connection between trade and entrepreneurship? (exports by start-ups)

– How do global value chains work? (offshoring, outsourcing => impact on job creations)

How to make more with the data?• Enriching the matched datasets:

Business Registers are a unique platform for further matchings => ownership etc. Longitudinal datasets => business demography

Discussion at CSTAT = very supportive. Database matching allows to create more value from existing sources while saving resources in NSOs

With those datasets, one can…- Compile further indicators, e.g.:

– Trade by multinational enterprises; intrafirm trade.

– Persistent exporters– Exports by young firms

- Work with/facilitate data access to analysts: E.g. national researchers, etc.

Experience in Canada, Italy, others?

Questions to delegates

• Do you see the TEC database as useful?

• What is your view on the Trade microdata handbook?

• Is a broadening of trade micro databases useful? How can this be done? Do you have experience in that field?