International Statistical Conference: INDEC's 50th Anniversary "50 Years Since the Creation of INDEC: Lessons for a New Statistical Law“ Louis Marc Ducharme, Director of the IMF Statistics Department January 31, 2018 Buenos Aires, Argentina

Overview Official Statistics are an Essential Public Service The IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework Effective Inter-agency Coordination and Collaboration The Importance of Data Users and the IMF Data Standards

Official Statistics are an Essential Public Service Fact-based decision-making relies on regular, timely, impartial, and high-quality statistical information A sound legal framework is key for official statistics to gain public trust is a fundamental prerequisite for an effective statistical system varies with country circumstances but shares key elements of the UN “Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics” is conducive to overall data quality enables statistical agencies to keep up with statistical innovations (e.g., Big Data)

The IMF’s Data Quality Assessment Framework The Data Quality Assessment Framework (DQAF) identifies key features of good governance for the production cycle of statistics The six-part framework is organized around a set of prerequisites and five dimensions of data quality: 0. prerequisites of quality The Legal and institutional environment is supportive of statistics: Clear responsibilities and legal authority to collect data Confidentiality and privacy measures to safeguard respondents’ data Legal grounds for data access and sharing are in place 1. assurances of integrity 2. methodological soundness 3. accuracy and reliability 4. serviceability 5. accessibility

Effective Inter-agency Coordination and Collaboration A sound legal framework is a precondition but not sufficient to make a statistical system work Statistical legislation can only be as effective as the degree to which is implemented Decentralized statistical systems may require additional inter-agency agreements outside the law (like MoUs) Agencies should work in partnerships for full access to administrative data (e.g., tax data) while respecting confidentiality and privacy standards obligations Promoting statistical purposes in the design of administrative systems is desirable For compiling certain statistics (e.g., integrated sectoral accounts and balance sheets) inter- agency collaboration is imperative, including through Memoranda of Understanding Expertise with administrative data will pave the way to deal with access to private (Big) data

The Importance of the Data User and the IMF Data Standards Sound statistical legislation takes into account the user perspective -- relevance, accessibility, timeliness The IMF Data Standards operationalize the Data Quality Assessment Framework Key aspects include: Data coverage, frequency, and timeliness Access by the public Integrity and Quality of the disseminated data Three tiers: Special Data Dissemination Standard (SDDS) – 61 subscribers – Argentina was among the first in 1996 14 SDDS Plus adherents 110 Enhanced General Data Dissemination System (e- GDDS) participants http://dsbb.imf.org

Thank you LDucharme@imf.org