ՀՀ ԱԶԳԱՅԻՆ ՎԻՃԱԿԱԳՐԱԿԱՆ ԾԱՌԱՅՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ NATIONAL STATISTICAL SERVICE OF RA ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE OF THE DEVELOPING OF COMPLETE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS. Quality of basic data - statistical problems Stepan MNATSAKANYAN Artashes SHABOYAN Joint Eurostat-UNSD Conference on National Accounts in the context of development cooperation, Luxembourg, 6 to 8 May 2008

INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES NSS is independent from state bodies in its activities. The supreme body of NSS is the SCS. The obligation to provide data to NSS is stated in the Law ON STATE STATISTICS (2000). TWO STAGE PLANNING: Since 2001 National Assembly of RA adopts the Law ON THREE YEAR STATISTICAL PROGRAM, where main strategic directions of statistical system in Armenia are taken place. The ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM adopted by SCS is based on this law and contains full set of indicators to be produced. The strategic planning helps to avoid problems with data providers, users as well as state bodies responsible for financing statistical activities undertaken.

DEVELOPING SNA IN ARMENIA The Process of changing System of Material Product to SNA-93 started in 1993 on the basis of 1990 annual data SERIES BY SNA-93 METHODOLOGY EXIST: from 1990 for ANNUAL accounts from 1992 for QUARTERLY accounts ANNUAL NATIONAL ACCOUNTS BY: - SEQUENCE OF ACCOUNTS (UP TO FINANCIAL ACCOUNT ) - INSTITUTIONAL SECTORS - INDUSTRIES - SUBSECTORIAL BREAKDOWN (public, national private, under foreign control)

CURRENT STATUS ANNUAL and QUATRERLY GDP is calculated and published: a. METHODS - production, - expenditure, - income (only for annual data) b. PRICES - current prices, - comparable prices of the previous year, - base year average prices including seasonal adjustments c. CLASSIFICATION OF TYPES OF ACTIVITIES - ОКОНХ (rus) - 1990-2005 data, - NACE rev 1.1 – since 2005. GDP by production - A3, A6 & A17 breakdown used in ESA-95. Metadata are updated quarterly and are available on IMF SDDS website

TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTING ENTIRE CENSUS Tool Population census Agricultural census (now in progress) Other PERIODICAL REPORTS Tool Organisations and Private Entrepreneurs State and local self-government bodies SAMPLE SURVEY Tool Households

MAIN DATA SOURCES FOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS From ORGANISATIONS and PRIVATE ENTREPRENEURS Reports on OUTPUT, INCOMES, EXPENDITURES and LABOUR Single SAMPLE SURVEYS focused in different spheres Report on economic activity of establishments From HOUSEHOLDS INTEGRATED LIVING CONDITIONS SURVEYS LABOUR FORCE SURVEYS DIRECT REPORTS TO NSS CENTRAL BANK – Monetary Statistics MINISTRY of FINANCE – GFS OTHER REGISTERS THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS

MAIN DATA SOURCES FOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS (2) DIRECT REPORTS TO NSS From BUSINESS STATISTICS Selected units ARE OBLIGED to report (accuracy and timeliness) Structuring is done by TYPES of ACTIVITIES (NACE 1.1) From HOUSEHOLDS NO OBLIGATION (most refuses from high income households) THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS By ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM Using ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL QUESTIONNAIRES DATA FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES ON THE SAME UNIT ARE CROSS CHECKED

ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS

BUSINESS REGISTER "Order on business (entrepreneurial) register maintenance in the Republic of Armenia” by the DECISION N 51, 29.05.2001 of STATE COUNCIL ON STATISTICS identification indicators survey indicators demographic indicators other indicators GROUPS of INDICATORS in BUSINESS REGISTER Direct data collection (Questionnaire) Indirect data collection DATA COLLECTION FOR BUSINESS REGISTER

QUALITY CONTROL OF DATA MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM INTERNAL PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING QUALITY: Ensuring the PROPER METHODOLOGY of indicators—SCS and Statistical Methodology and Classifications Division; BUSINESS STATISTICS — Macroeconomic Indicators and National Accounts Division and Senior Adviser to the President of NSS; MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS —Senior Adviser to the President of NSS; PUBLICATIONS and DISSEMINATION —Vice President and Statistical Publications and Marketing Division.

ISSUES WITH DATA SOURCES DIFFICUILTIES OF UPDATING BUSINESS REGISTER rapid growth of NUMBER of ECONOMIC ENTITIES large changes in ECONOMIC INDICATORS of ENTITIES SAMPLING used for direct data collection EXISTENCE OF LARGE INFORMAL ACTIVITIES Since 1994 GDP includes estimations on NON-OBSERVED ECONOMY. Sources for NOE estimation: employment data, household surveys, other special surveys and indirect methods. ISSUES OF RESPONSIBILITY OF DATA PROVIDERS DEVELOPING OF COMPLETE SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS