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Official Statistics & Statistical Systems The case for capacity building UNSD Workshop on CountryData – Technologies for Data Exchange Bangkok, Thailand, 18-22 March 2013 Zoltan Nagy – Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social affairs, United Nations

Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

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Official Statistics & Statistical Systems largely based on other presentations by colleges from WB, IMF and others.

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Page 1: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

The case for capacity building

UNSD Workshop on CountryData – Technologies for Data Exchange

Bangkok, Thailand, 18-22 March 2013

Zoltan Nagy – Statistics Division, Department of Economic and Social affairs, United Nations

Page 2: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Outline

What is official statistics?

National and international statistical systems

Principles of official statistics

Challenges and building capacity in exchanging data

Page 3: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

The need for official statistics?

All countries need statistical data To identify issues and problems To provide a picture of the current situation To provide the evidence for policy making To monitor progress

Numerical data Provide for comparisons Can be seen to be precise and objective Can be manipulated Give access to powerful tools of statistical and

mathematical analysis

Page 4: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Official statistics as a public good

Official statistics Collected and published by governments Mandate generally set out in legislation Financed from general tax revenue Public good

Use by one person does not affect others Costly to produce, but easily disseminated Value depends on quality, but difficult for users to

determine this

Page 5: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Statistical systems

Almost all countries have set up statistical systems Part of central government Organization varies, but even when centralized

may involve several agencies

National systems have a dual role To serve the needs of government To provide information to the public

Page 6: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

The statistical process

Statistical agencies apply data collection methods to obtain data from data providers

Data are processed, summarized and disseminated in different statistical products to users

What data to collect is a political issueWhat methods to use is a technical

question

Page 7: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Data providers

Data sources Households and individuals Business enterprises, both formal and informal Public enterprises and service providers Civil society organizations and other groups

Trade-off between need for data and level of intrusion and cost to providers

Important to maintain confidentiality

Page 8: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Data collection

Formal censuses and surveys Population censuses and household surveys Business enquiries

Administrative records and MIS Service delivery Economic transactions with government Requirements of legislation

Other methods Remote sensing Participatory methods

Page 9: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Statistical processes and products

Statistical processes Data validation and editing Compilation of summary statistics Analysis and estimation Provision of commentary and explanation

Statistical products Publications, abstracts, digests, reports Electronic media, including data for further analysis Publication through the Internet Reports on methods

Page 10: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Data users

Government Policy makers, planners, analysts and managers

Politicians and legislatorsMarkets

Domestic and internationalThe public

Lobbyists, CSOs, individuals etc.The mediaInternational community

Development agencies and donors

Page 11: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

The international statistical system

Measuring development

progress - MDGsPolicies, resources,

programs, projects

Supply of data

National dataData processes

Statistical infrastructureFinanced by:

Government budgets,

multilateral trust funds, and bilateral donors;

Supported by technical

assistance and training

Review processes

Methods and

standards

Coordination,advocacy,

information

International frameworks

Transnational data

ICP, environmentaldata, etc.

international

agencies, IMF, WB, regional agencies

Global data

Implementation

Assessment and analysis

UN specialized

Consistent

data

Page 12: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

The theory of official statistics

Users are not easily able to determine the quality of statistics

The UN have developed 10 fundamental principles of official statistics

By following these principles statistical agencies are able to demonstrate their integrity and to build trust and confidence in their products

Page 13: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Key principles of official statistics

1. Relevance, impartiality and equal access 2. Professional standards and ethics 3. Accountability and transparency 4. Prevention of misuse 5. Sources of official statistics 6. Confidentiality 7. Legislation 8. National coordination 9. Use of international standards 10. International cooperation

Page 14: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Challenges and constraints

Many statistical systems are under stress and under-performing Lack of demand and limited political support Inadequate and declining real budgets and over-

dependence on donor funding Staff lack incentives and skills Products difficult to access and use Limited feedback from users Ineffective coordination and management

Many systems are caught in a vicious cycle Inadequate finance Poor quality output Lower

demand Low priority for scarce resources

Page 15: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Balancing supply and demand

Capacity building requires building demand as much as improving supply

No formal market for statistics No price mechanism to provide signals for

investment

Need for mechanisms to identify and respond to new demands for data

Need for active marketing of output

Page 16: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Improving performance

Improving communications with usersBuilding trust in products and focusing on data

qualityMaking better use of existing dataUsing new technology to reduce costs and

improve efficiencyImproving coordination and managementMaking statistical systems more transparent,

responsive and accountable

Page 17: Official Statistics & Statistical Systems

Developing a strategy

Identify stakeholdersBroad consultation to build ownershipAssess strengths and weaknessesIdentify investment needsPrioritize actionsDevelop a time-bound planMonitor and evaluate progress