1 1 Topics difficult to measure in a register-based census Harald Utne Census Project Statistics Norway UNECE-Eurostat Meeting on Population and Housing Censuses in Geneva May 2008

2 Register-based censuses - common problems? Topics difficult to measure depend on –Coverage and quality of administrative data available –Possibilities to link registers Differences between countries Presentation based on –Mainly on Norwegian experiences –Some other Nordic experiences –A few other experiences Contents of presentation 1.Types of information difficult to obtain from registers 2.What topics are difficult to measure? Common problems for discussion

3 Types of information difficult to obtain from registers Data from recently established registers Data of minor importance for administrative purposes The never-ever problem Data from events abroad Data on topics not relevant for administrative registration

4 Data from recently established registers Time elapsing from registers are established till good quality data are available –Differences between registers –Differences between countries Norway: Labour market register –Register on employees: 1978 –More registers available: –First census: 2001 Norway: Dwelling register –Established in 2001 –Housing and household topics most difficult in 2011

5 Data of minor importance for administrative purposes Norwegian register on dwellings and buildings Topics mandatory to update: low coverage –Example: water supply Other topics: coverage more than 90 per cent Norwegian register on wage sums Used to identify employment Duration on employment not important for tax authorities –Not recorded even if possible

6 The never-ever problem Lack of data describing the situation before the register was established Ever resided abroad –Resided abroad after 1964 Unemployed persons never employed –Not employed after 2000

7 Data from events abroad Mainly a problem for immigrants Information not recorded at the time of immigration Education taken abroad Legal marital status

8 Data on topics not relevant for administrative registration Topics on emotional relationships No general cohabitation register Only recorded if relevant for administrative purpose (taxation etc) Topics on behavior or attitudes Mode of transport to work/school Type of energy uses for heating

9 Population to be enumerated and geographical characteristics Place of usual residence Population registers: Legal residence Implication also for household and housing topics Relevance –Administrative rules and practices do not fully comply with census recommendation Accuracy –Updating population registers

10 Place of usual residence “Rule of twelve months” –Norwegian CPR: Six months –Other countries: Different rules, no such rule Third level students –Parents’ address or place of study (Norway: Voluntarily) Illegal immigrants –Under-coverage People moving abroad –Few incentives to de-register –Over-coverage Very old-age population –Persons not de-registered will never die

11 Demographic, family and household characteristics Dwelling household concept –Combination of CPR and dwelling register –Norway: No household register –No housekeeping units Relationship between household members –Links: Spouses and children – parents (missing for older persons) –Derived links: Siblings, children – grandparents (also missing) Cohabitating couples Estimation based on –Sex, common children, kinship, age difference, date of moving into dwelling –Sample surveys

12 Migration and ethno-cultural characteristics Ever resided abroad, year of arrival –The never-ever problem Country of birth according to existing boundaries –Based on estimation Ethnicity –Subjective dimension, normally not recorded –Estimations based on available information –Country background, ethnical background Language, religion –Depending on national registration

13 Economic characteristics Current activity status: Use of multiple sources –Some sources may not have duration recorded –Using LFS for benchmarking or estimation Status in employment – Family workers difficult to identify Industry, location of place of work –Identify local kind of activity unit Persons working abroad –Nordic countries: Data exchange Unemployed never worked before –Difficult to identify jobs for those who have been working long ago Persons not currently active –Students: Enrolled vs. active –Homemakers: Estimation only

14 Educational characteristics Education taken abroad –Searching for new administrative sources –Supplement by statistical surveys

15 Housing topics Housing arrangements –CPR: Most people registered in conventional dwellings –Homeless  Only registered homeless, not de facto  Not registered at all Type of living quarters –Mainly information on conventional dwellings Occupational status –Occupants according to CPR (legal) –Difficult to distinguish between dwellings  Reserved for seasonal or secondary use  Vacant –Dwelling occupied by students may be classified as “vacant”

16 Housing topics (cont.) Topics on housing standards –Old buildings: Information may be missing –Updating depending on administrative needs  Norway: Floor space updated, problems with number of rooms Electricity, piped gas etc –Depending on specialized registers

17 Conclusions Topics difficult to measure using register-based data Depending on set-up of national register system How to solve the problems Solution may also depend on national circumstances Searching for new administrative sources Using sample surveys for benchmarking, imputation, estimation Some problems in common: Cooperation between countries Exchange information Compare data Exchange data