Questions for practitionaires Clementina Ivan-Ungureanu Training: Essential SNA: Building the basics Addis Ababa, February 2012

1. National Strategies for the Development of Statistics Is a NSDS elaborated for your country? If yes, what is the structure? If not, have you in plan? Which are the main obstacles to realize it?

2. The 2008 SNA implementation strategy Which is the situation of NA implementation in your country? What are the major problem: data sources, access to data, lack of staff etc Are actions taken to improve the actual situation? Is a strategy for NA implementation and development elaborated? If no, is foreseen to be done?

3. Business Register Does an SBR exist in the statistical office or does it need to be constructed? What other administrative records and registers exist in the country? If an SBR exists, how good is the quality of its information? Is it based on the most suitable administrative sources? Is it updated regularly?

3. Business Register (2) To what extent does the quality of an SBR affect the quality of statistical surveys used for compiling national accounts? Is the classification of industries used in an SBR in line with SNA requirements? Is the SBR used as a sampling framework for statistical surveys?

4. Classifications Are international classifications implemented in the statistical system and are they used for the collection, compilation and dissemination of statistical data sources? What are the classifications used in the administrative system? Are they in line with the statistical classifications and can they be used for national accounts purposes? Are there correspondence tables between the different classifications to ensure system consistency?

5. Statistical data sources What statistical surveys are conducted by the statistical office? Are the need for NA compilation covered in a sufficient way by the existing statistical surveys? If not, is there a strategy for development?

5. Statistical data sources (2) Are the concepts, content and classifications used in these surveys in line with the requirements of the 2008 SNA? What statistical surveys needs to be implemented to in order to guarantee national accounts compilation requirements?

5. Statistical data sources (3) The surveys questionnaires are well designed ( useful questions, clear instructions, avoid respondent burden, etc) The collection of data is well organized? The data processing is carried out in good conditions? What are the uses of surveys? Do they meet the users requirements?

6. Administrative data sources What is the actual situation concerning the use of administrative sources for statistical purposes in your country? What are the main problems with using administrative sources? Is it possible to gain access to these sources? Do agreements for collaboration and memorandum need to be set up?

6. Administrative data sources (2) Are the proper ways of collecting administrative records and using them for statistical purposes in place? Do you use administrative data for NA compilation? Have all administrative data sources been examined to determine to what extent the data they contain can be used to support the statistical programme?

6. Administrative data sources (3) Do “bridge tables” exist for translation from accounting indicators to NA concept? Have the procedures for transforming from business to national accounting concepts been defined and fully understood by survey and national accounts staff? Does there exist a strategy for improvement the use of administrative sources?

7. Non-Observed Economy Is NOE an important part of the economy? Which are the NOE elements in your country? How concerned are the main users about any of the NOE problem areas? The bigger their concerns, the more effort NOE measurements merits Is a strategy developed to start the NOE estimation or to improve it?

7. Non-Observed Economy (2) Does the statistical office have a multi- year plan? if not, is this a priority? Does the statistical office recognize and attach appropriate importance to its structure in order to implement NOE measurement strategy? Is open expression of possible problems of NOE?

7. Non-Observed Economy (3) Are there partnerships with administrative agencies with a view of a better use of administrative sources to satisfy statistical office data needs, in particular to address NOE coverage problems? Are methods to estimate NOE applied? Which are the results? Are the estimates disseminated?

8. Informal Sector How big and important is the informal sector in the country? What are the available data sources that could be used for estimations? What new surveys are needed to improve the estimations?

8. Informal Sector (2) What are the methods applied for the estimation of informal sector? What is the quality of the results? Are the data disseminated?

9. Handbook What is your general impression of the Handbook (layout, size, clarity)? What topics are missing? What topics should be treated in more length? Are there topics which can be treated more succinctly? Or perhaps be left out completely?

9. Handbook (2) Is the treatment in the Handbook sufficiently practice oriented? Are the examples clear and relevant? Should there be more examples? Will the Handbook be of practical use for your country in the implementation of SNA 2008? If no, why not? Any other comments that will allow us to improve the quality of the Handbook