International Measurement of Culture John C Gordon Statistics Directorate Paris, 4-5 December, 2006

2 Framework UNESCO FCS –1986: Framework published –2006: Framework revisited/reworked Eurostat 2000 LEG Many others Are we going to start all over again? NO

3 Framework Principles Clear Comprehensive Framework is crucial to comparability Should co-ordinate not conflict with other international frameworks. Comprehensive - integrate a variety of aspects using multiple standards: –Industry/economic activity –Occupation –Product –Government expenditures –Consumer expenditures

4 Some Concerns Secondary activity (industry/occupation) usually hidden Culture industries not necessarily homogeneous, not well measured by sample surveys Volunteers mostly invisible Culture not well served by most standards.

5 OECD Scope (interim) (draft report, p9) Advertising Architecture Video, film and photography Music and the visual and performing arts incl. festivals Publishing / Written media incl. printing Radio and TV (Broadcasting) Art and antiques trade Design (including Designer fashion) Crafts Libraries (includes archives) Museums Heritage sites Electronic games

6 * The Culture Sector's * Share Culture Contribution to GDP –Australia3.1%(1998) –Canada3.5%(2002) –France2.8%(2003) –USA3.3%(2002) –UK5.8%(2003) Culture Portion of Labour Force –Australia5.1%(2001) –Canada3.8%(2003) –USA2.5%(2003) –UK4.3%(2004)

7 The Economy of Culture in Europe (EC 2006) “A strategic approach to the culture Sector needs to be informed by the development of appropriate statistical tools and indicators at both national and European levels... In Europe, in the framework of statistical systems currently implemented, the statistical categorisations are not adapted to cultural activities and occupations. In addition, data generally provided by national statistical institutes either do not offer the level of details required, or are not available at all. Establish a strong quantitative evidence base for policy makers.

8 Importance of Measures Social Impact Economic outcomes are not why most people become involved in culture and, therefore, economic indicators alone cannot be expected to provide exhaustive measures of the benefits cultural involvement brings to individuals and to the societies formed by these individuals.

9 Criteria for Measures They must be measurable. That is to say that the underlying data required to produce the measure must be available or, if not presently available, there must be a practical methodology available to obtain the required data. Comparisons at the international level must be meaningful, and of course, the measures must be truly comparable. These comparisons should be useful to policy makers at the national level.

10 Clarity Data gatherer must understand what data are needed. Data provider must understand what data are being requested. Both gatherer and provider must have the SAME understanding

11 Classification Standards National standards International standards Revision to standards – OECD role Culture specific standards Allocation factors Generic methodologies

12 Satellite Accounts Finland Chile Columbia Mexico Convenio Andrés Bello offering support OECD expert group ?

13 What's next this morning? OECD Data table construction Coffee Discussion of frameworks

14 Revised Scope May be too soon for definitive Framework Need to produce data sooner rather than later Agree to disagree on full framework? Agree to proceed with a reduced scope for now? Recommendations on Framework and/or Scope

15 OECD Scope Determination No new “framework” immediately “Scope” Most current frameworks more theoretical than practical Most countries use modified approach Partially driven by immediate availability of data Starts from FCS Excludes Environment Sports (in FCS) Excludes New Media (in LEG) Retains Advertising and Fashion( ex LEG) Adds Architecture (in LEG)