Situation of Annual National Accounts data and metadata in 2009 November 2009—La Muette Esther Bolton Hello, I am Esther Bolton and I am one of the ANA database managers. This presentation aims at giving delegates a quick overview on the status of the collection and dissemination of the data. I am sure that delegates are aware that this database is central to the work of many external as well as internal users. 1

Annual National Accounts Situation Database provides consistent and comparable data. Data Availability: See table 1 in STD/CSTAT/WPNA(2009)5 Common OECD-Eurostat questionnaire is sent to sna.contact@oecd.org Indication of methodology changes to include with data transmission It is essential to the users because is provides consistent and comparable data. The availability of data varies from one country to another as well as the length of time series; you may find this in the paper 5, table 1. Regarding the collection of data, the questionnaire used is common to Eurostat and OECD. It should be sent to sna.contact@oecd.org even if already sent via Gesmes or Edamis. Any changes of methodology, even minor, should be mentioned with the data. This is very important because it avoids errors or back and forth messages. 2

Availability of data OECD database covers almost all the tables of the questionnaire Table 0119 has been removed from the Eurostat questionnaire Data to be provided in the format of the given questionnaire or countries to adopt SDMX format Improvements in data transmission but still a lack of data and more precisely on fixed assets tables. The SNA database covers almost all the tables of the Eurostat questionnaire. Table 0119 has been removed in the Eurostat questionnaire, but is kept for OECD questionnaire as it is less detailed than table 0800. Countries are asked to provide their data in the given format of the questionnaire. If it is too complicated from a technical point of view, member countries ought to consider using the SDMX format. We noticed improvements in the quality as well as the quantity of data transmission , however, we would like more data on fixed assets. 3

Dissemination of data Paper, OLISnet (OECD.stat) and Cd Rom Currently three volumes: Volume I, Main aggregates; Volume II, Detailed tables; Volume IV, General Government data annual. As from 2010: New publication National Accounts at a glance (NAAG) Volume I and II issued together once in July. The dissemination of the data goes through 3 main channels: paper, electronic/on line ( Olis net and OECD.stat), CD Rom. As said before by Jeroen, there are regarding non financial accounts, 3 volumes. As from 2009, Volume IV on General government most requested tables are integrated in Volume II, as volume IV is no longer published. Volume II has also been readapted. Volume I and II as from 2010 will be issued together once in July. A new publication NAAG, to be issued for the first time at the end of 2009-beginning of 2010. 4

Dissemination of data Volume II modified to better reflect users' needs Labour data shown in Hours, New breakdown of Final Consumption of Households by durability; General Government Expenditure by function As mentioned the Volume II has been modified to better reflect user’s needs: Employment data used to be provided in Person and Full Time Equivalent; FTE is dropped and replaced by Hours. A new breakdown of Final consumption of households by durability has been adopted : durable, semi-durable and non-durable, services. Finally a new table has been inserted on the General Government expenditure by function; which was basically the most requested data by users. 5

Methodology FISIM Allocated for all countries except Japan, Mexico, New Zealand and Turkey All OECD member countries now compile accounts according to 1993 SNA Methodology : The Secretariat would like to know when Japan, Mexico New Zealand and Turkey plan to send Fisim allocated data. All OECD countries compile according to SNA93. 6

Linkages in the OECD ANA database : Why are we using this method? For countries which have recently changed their methodology and therefore are sending shorter time series. Users demand long and continuous time series In consequence: countries are asked to specify any change in their methodology I would like to focus on a technique we use in the ANA database: linking between versions. Why are we using this method? Countries which have recently changed their methodology usually send in the first place a shorter set of time series. But data users demand a continuity in the length of time series. So in order to respond to this need and avoid breaks in series, OECD links time series. Therefore it is very important for us to know if any change in the methodology has occurred. 7

Linkages in the OECD ANA database: How is it done? Calculation of the ratio between new and old definition data on the first common year . This ratio is then applied to old definition data for the time period missing in new data These calculated data are marked as “E” for estimated data in the database. The method used to link data is the following : We calculate the ratio on the first common year between the old definition data and the new definition data. Then this ratio is applied to old definition data for the missing time series data We add an “e” for estimated to the so computed data. As you can notice in the example of the paper, the continuity is kept, breaks are avoided and the method is simple. 8

Access to data Access is free to NSOs and Governments : http://www.oecd.org/olisnet OECD.stat enables to display any set of data from OECD databases http://stats.oecd.org/index.aspx For information the access to the entire set of data is free for any NSO or government agency. The link to access the OECD.stat is the one given on the screen : it is via OLIS. OECD.stat is a high tech tools allowing OECD to display its entire databases at once. The link is given on the screen 9

In summary : Send as much information /data as possible Special effort to supply tables 2000 (fixed assets by industry and by type of assets) and 2600 (Balance sheet for non-financial assets) Non EU countries invited to report their plans to provide second digit level of the COFOG classification The use of NAWWE is highly recommended. 10