provide information ESSnet on consistency of concepts and applied methods of business and trade related statistics Session 2 : Business Statistics Norbert Rainer ESSnet Workshop Köln Oct 2011

2 | Content  Context  The issue of consistency  European Statistics Code of Practice  Requirements for consistency  ESSnet an Consistency  Three Work packages  External study  Statistical domains to be covered  Main objectives  Organizational structure

3 | The issue of consistency (1) European statistics are compiled in accordance with Community legislations, which has developed over years European legislation as well as concepts, manuals and hand-books “Costs” of inconsistencies:  Lack of coherence/comparability  Higher costs of statistical production  Higher response burden How to increase consistency within the areas of business and between business statistics and trade statistics

4 | European Statistics Code of Practice (1) Principle 14 of the European Statistics Code of Practice concern coherence and comparability (new version): “European Statistics are (old version: should be) consistent internally, over time and comparable between regions and countries; it is (old version: should be) possible to combine and make joint use of related data from different sources.”

5 | Five indicators (new version)  14.1: Statistics are internally coherent and consistent  14.2: Statistics are comparable over a reasonable period of time  14.3: Statistics are compiled on the basis of common standards with respect to scope, definitions, units and classifications in the different surveys and sources  14.4: Statistics from the different sources and of different periodicity are compared and reconciled  14.5: Cross-national comparability of the data is ensured within the European Statistical System through periodical exchanges between the European Statistical System and other statistical systems. Methodological studies are carried out in close co- operation between the Member States and Eurostat European Statistics Code of Practice (2)

6 | Requirements for consistency:  Horizontal consistency: Comparability between various statistical domains Statistical units Target population Frame Classifications Definitions Reference period/time  Vertical consistency: Comparability between the sum of Member States data and the European aggregate

7 | Three Work packages  Concepts Statistical units Target population Frames Reference period Classifications and their application Characteristics and definitions  Implementation in the MS WP1 WP2 WP3 WP1+2+3

8 | External study “External study on detail evaluation of the legal acts in the areas of statistics which were identified by member states as areas to revision” by Josef Richter, Christian Engelage and Peter Thomas Submitted to Eurostat July 2010

9 | Statistical domains to be covered (1)  Group A: Methodological / conceptual fundament Business Register Statistical units Various relevant classifications  Group B: Enterprise / business statistical domains Structural business statistics Short – term statistics Prodcom Foreign – Affiliates Statistics Tourism

10 | Statistical domains to be covered (2) Energy Environment ICT Statistics External Trade Research and Development Employment Statistics (Labour Force, Structure of Earnings, Labour Cost, Job Vacancy) Vocational Training International Trade in Services Foreign Direct Investment  Group C: “Tertiary Statistics” Balance of Payments National Accounts

11 | Main objectives Inputs External Study Eurostat and National experts Inquiry Study visits Workshops Main objectives Inventory of the implementation of the concepts in the member states Identification of inconsistencies Evaluation and assessment of inconsistencies Proposals for adjustments Further: ° Cooperation with other ESSnets ° Dissemination

12 | Organizational structure of ESSnet on Consistency Work packagesCoordinatorPartnersTime schedule WP 1: Statistical UnitsIT AT, FR, IE, LV January December 2012 WP 2: Target population, frames, reference period, classifications and their applications AT DE, IE, IT, LT, LV, SE,UK January December 2013 WP 3: Characteristics and definitions SEnot yet fixed 2012 – December 2013

13 | 15 October 2015 Please address queries to: Norbert Rainer Contact information: Guglgasse 13, 1110 Vienna phone: +43 (1) fax: +43 (1) ESSnet on Consistency