Presentation of Clearspace: a new storage system for methodological information Eun Jung KIM, STD/NAD WPFS, October 2011

Introduction  Background: at the 2010 WPFS meeting, it was decided to create a space on the OECD website especially dedicated to methodological surveys and to make it available to WPFS Delegates.  Results: using an OECD collaborative web-portal called “Clearspace”, a community space for the Working Parties on financial Statistics (WPFS) and on Debt Management (WPDM) has been implemented. The address is:  Purpose: initially, this space will allow WPFS/WPDM Delegates from the two groups to get information on methodological surveys launched by the OECD Secretariat. Later, it will also be open to other national and international experts (mainly contacts in countries responsible for financial data) will allow them to update and comment the information.

Contents of the WPFS/WPDM Clearspace The WPFS/WPDM Clearspace focuses on four subjects: I. Financial Accounts and Financial Balance Sheets Sources and Methods Valuation Securitisation Consolidation II. Households' financial and non-financial assets and liabilities III. Institutional Investors Statistics IV. Central Government Debt

Quick presentation (1)  Logging into Clearspace 1) To access the website, click on the link below: 2) Because of security problems, the Secretariat does not provide you with a password for the first access. You need to create your own account by clicking on “Forgotten Password”.

Quick presentation (2) 3) You type your address and the characters you see. 4) Choose your own password.

Illustration (Main page)  Searching for the subjects which you are interested in When you log on to Clearspace, you will see an overview on the main page. (

Illustration (‘Documents’ tab) Under the tab ‘Documents’, there is a list of subjects. Click on a subject to see the related documents. (

Documents  Currently, countries’ responses to the following two surveys relating to FA & FBS have been stored on Clearspace: Manual on sources and methods for the compilation of ESA 95 financial accounts Methods of valuation of quoted and unquoted shares  The replies to the other surveys relating not only to FA & FBS, but also to the other subjects will be included in the coming weeks.

Quick presentation (3) Limited actions are currently open to you:  Consulting a document and updating it Click on a document to see a preview of it. Alternatively, you can download it. Update it either simply by clicking on “Comments”, below the document, and then typing your new text only if a few changes have to be made or by downloading your document, revising your texts and uploading your revised file.  For other information (e.g. posting your texts, loading your revised file), refer to the Quick User’s Guide in the top- right hand corner of the main page (under Useful information).

Conclusion  More documents on methodological surveys and related information about other subjects will be posted progressively.  Delegates are invited to visit this Cleaspace for viewing information relating to all OECD countries and to update it when needed.  More improvements of the WPFS/WPDM Clearspace will be made, probably from next year, if resources allow it. In particular, it might be used to prepare the program of work for the next biennium  Delegates will be informed on developments regarding additional possible actions, such as posting new national documents, commenting OECD documents, launching new ideas…  For any suggestions and problems, please contact us.