United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Regional Workshop on the 2010 World Programme on Population and Housing Censuses Minsk, 8-12 December 2008 Overview of the Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2010 Censuses of Population and Housing Paolo Valente United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division

Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2010 Censuses

Purpose of the CES recommendations: To provide guidance and assistance to CES countries in the planning and conducting of their population and housing census To improve the comparability of the data through the selection of a core set of census topics and the harmonization of definitions and classifications

Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2010 Censuses Regional version prepared since 1960 round Reflect reality and specific needs of CES countries New CES Rec. prepared in 2004-2006 Joint effort of over 100 national experts Adopted by CES in 2006 Reference standard for EU census programme Preparation of the Recommendations requested by the Conference of European Statisticians (CES) First regional recommendations adopted by CES in 1959 for the censuses of the 1960 round Other regional recommendations prepared for 1970, 1980, 1990 and 2000 census rounds The CES Recommendations for the 2010 censuses mark the 50th anniversary of the regional recommendations Work promoted by UNECE in cooperation with Eurostat Overall coordination by the Steering Group on Population and Housing Censuses (membership: 12 countries + UNECE and Eurostat) Text of the different chapters drafted by 11 Task Forces In total, about 100 experts contributed, from 30 NSIs and 9 International Organisations Work conducted through meetings of the Task Forces, as well as by email, teleconferences and audioconferences

Relation between CES Rec. and Principles and Recommendations/Rev. 2 Prepared in parallel Interaction of the two processes General consistency of the two sets Principles and Rec.: Broader in scope CES Rec.: More specific, focus on CES countries  2 sets can be used in complementary manner Principles and Rec./Rev. 2 (UNSD): Broader in scope - Census organization - Census management Tabulation program CES Rec. Focus on regional level: Reflect reality and specific needs of CES countries Therefore, CES Rec. may adopt more detailed approach (place of usual res.)

Conference of European Statisticians Recommendations for the 2010 Censuses Content of CES Census Recommendations: Census methodology (NEW) Emerging census technology (NEW) POPULATION census topics HOUSING census topics Not covered: Planning, organization and management Census outputs Tabulation programme

Content of the 2010 census rec. Sections CES Rec. Princ. & Rec. Census methodology  NEW (alternative)  Planning, organisation and management Census technology NEW (emerging)  (traditional) Population topics Housing topics Tabulation programme Appendices APPENDICES: Alternative approaches to census taking The fundamental principles of official statistics in the context of population and housing censuses Quality assurance framework and implementation Methods of census evaluation The scope and design of consultation programs Implementation of a publicity and information campaign

New appendices introduced in 2010 CES Recommendations Alternative approaches to census taking Fundamental principles of official statistics in the framework of the Census Quality framework Census evaluation Consultation programmes Publicity and information campaign

New chapters on Census methodology and technology Presentation of selected methodological approaches or technology emerging across the region Purpose of these sections and related appendix is not to recommend a specific approach but rather to inform and guide countries, presenting pros and cons of various approaches Census methodology: review of alternative methodological approaches: Register based census Decennial count with annual update of characteristics Registers + surveys or complete enumeration Rolling census Emerging technology for data collection: Internet census Hand held devices

Population and housing topics in the CES rec Population and housing topics in the CES rec.: Presenting topics more substantively Describe the issues in the context of a national statistical system Develop the conceptual framework and related definitions (i.e. migration, economic char., housing) List of topics Core topics: highly recommended for inclusion Non-core topics: suggested topics for interested countries

Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec. /Rev Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec./Rev. 2 Example 1: Type of population count Principles and Recommendations/Rev. 2 Broad scope  Choice of 3 types of pop. count: Present population count: People are counted at the place where they are present at census time Usual resident population count: People are counted where they actually “live” (are “usual resident”) Better information for planning and policy purposes More complex Service population count: People are counted where they “use” services Ex: Daytime population, working population Usually considered as additional output Concept of place of usual residence quite easy to apply for the majority of the population. The problem is how to define the place of usual residence for people who move between different places, especially those who do so frequently. For these people there is the need to define a time threshold, the minimum time a person needs to live in a place in order to be considered as usual resident in that place The threshold identifies how "permanent" a person needs to be in one place in order to be defined as usual resident in that place (3, 6, 12 months).

More specific, for CES countries: Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec./Rev. 2 Example 1: Type of population count CES Recommendations More specific, for CES countries: Usual resident population count is recommended Best count for policy and planning purposes Best count for international comparison of census results Concept of place of usual residence quite easy to apply for the majority of the population. The problem is how to define the place of usual residence for people who move between different places, especially those who do so frequently. For these people there is the need to define a time threshold, the minimum time a person needs to live in a place in order to be considered as usual resident in that place The threshold identifies how "permanent" a person needs to be in one place in order to be defined as usual resident in that place (3, 6, 12 months).

Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec. /Rev Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec./Rev. 2 Example 2: Definition of « Place of usual residence » For definition of Place of usual residence same general concept in the two sets of recommendations, based on: Time threshold of 12 months Concept of “Intention of staying” for persons who changed residence shortly before the census Concept of place of usual residence quite easy to apply for the majority of the population. The problem is how to define the place of usual residence for people who move between different places, especially those who do so frequently. For these people there is the need to define a time threshold, the minimum time a person needs to live in a place in order to be considered as usual resident in that place The threshold identifies how "permanent" a person needs to be in one place in order to be defined as usual resident in that place (3, 6, 12 months).

Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec. /Rev Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec./Rev. 2 Example 2: Definition of « Place of usual residence » Principles and Recommendations/Rev.2 Two alternative approaches presented: The place at which the person has lived continuously for most of the last 12 months (that is, for at least six months and one day) … or intends to live for at least six months; The place at which the person has lived continuously for at least the last 12 months, or intends to live for at least 12 months. not including temporary absences for holidays or work assignments,

Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec. /Rev Relation between CES Rec. and Princ. and Rec./Rev. 2 Example 2: Definition of « Place of usual residence » CES Recommendations Approach (b) recommended: Place where a person has lived for a continuous period of at least 12 months before census day OR Place where a person has arrived during the 12 months before census day with the intention of staying for at least 12 months Intention of staying will be covered more in detail in my presentation for next session, as well as other cases where there are some differences between the two sets of recommendations.