1. United Nations Symposium on Population and Housing Censuses 13 – 14 September 2004 New York

2. The Joint Population Census for Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile: an experience of Regional Integration Laura Cazzoli, INDEC, Argentina Alicia Bercovich, IBGE, Brazil René Sá Vidal, INE, Chile 09/13/04

3. 2000 Census for Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile General Objectives Operationalization Joint Pilot Tests Current Status Differences with other Integration Projects Conclusion

4. 2000 Census for Mercosur, Bolivia and Chile Integration requires clear, reliable, and comparable statistics Members of Extended Mercosur: Argentina Brazil Paraguay Uruguay Bolivia Chile

5. General Objectives Obtain comparable statistical data Optimization of the Methodological, Human and Technological Resources of the countries for Census execution Obtain Institutional support to be able to execute the next Census as close to the year 2000 as possible Make easier Horizontal Cooperation Potencialize the Technical International Support

6. Operationalization Define a minimal set of common variables to be compatibilized and simultaneously disseminated Harmonization of definitions and concepts Achieve operational homogenization Ensure compatibility of classifications and coding systems Plan common tables, maps and figures Create a unique database

7. Addressing the Problems: Working Groups Planning, supervision and control Concepts and Definitions Classifications and Coding Training Technological Aspects Data Dissemination and Documentation

8. Concepts and Definitions Common variables: Housing Characteristics Head of Household Characteristics Age and Sex Migration Educational Characteristics Economic Characteristics

9. Classifications and Coding Industry (CAES Mercosur) Occupation Status of employment Other Characteristics Training Methodology Operational homogenization Handbook for Census Staff

10. Technological Aspects Data capture with scanners and ICR Automatic and Assisted Coding Editing and Imputation Data Dissemination and Documentation Unique Microdata Base Aggregated Data Base Common Tables and Figures Dissemination trough Website and Publications: www.censomercosul.org

11. Joint Pilot Tests Goals: Testing common contents Comparing Training Methodologies Industry and Occupation Classification Testing Database Design and Production of Tables Carried out in 1998 and 1999, in the borders of Argentina and Brazil, Bolivia and Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay

12. Joint Pilot Tests Results exceeded expectations: Enthusiastic participation of population Media accompanied census activities Observers not only pointed differences but carried ideas to their own countries Similar Concepts and Definitions were sometimes operationalized in different ways

13. Current Status Almost all the Mercosur Censuses carried between 2000 and 2002 Data Capture with scanners and ICR: Joint Cooperation Network Common Classification for Industry (CAES Mercosur) Convergent Classifications for Occupation Automated Coding : principles homogenized

14. Current Status II Editing and Imputation Techniques discussed Quality Control and Evaluation Workgroups, Seminar on October 2004 Website for the Common Census: www.censomercosur.org Multidimensional Data Base Aggregated Data Base Pilot tests for new items to be Harmonized: Disability, Indigenous Population, International Migration

15. Final Remarks Differences with other Projects: unusual way of organization Multiple sources of funding: National Statistical Offices, UNFPA, IDB, JICA, UNDP, OIM, support from Census Bureau, INSEE, Statscan Integration of the teams Progress in the solution of common problems Socialization of Technological Advances Project continuation: Pilot tests for new items to be Harmonized Lessons for 2005/2010