1. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 1

2. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 2 The Role of Internationally Comparable Microdata for Improvement of Economic Analysis Gert G. Wagner DIW and TU Berlin and German Council for Social and Economic Data

3. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 3 Providers … of statistical data are no longer only official statistical agencies.. but academic providers too, esprecially in the field of longitudinal micro data (e. g. household panels)

4. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 4 Examples for Analyses by Means of Microdata OECD Studies on Earnings Mobility OECD Studies on Retirement UNESCO Studies on Child Poverty Studies on Happiness / National Well- Being Accounts No Studies on Behavior of Firms ???

5. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 5 Databases LIS (Luxemborg Income Study) CNEF (Vross National Equivalent File) ECHP (European Community Household Panel) ESS (European Social Survey) Firm Data??? Employer-Employee-Link Data Sets ?

6. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 6 LIS Luxemborg Income Study Organization: LIS Funding: US Funding Agencies and « National » Contributions Access to Microdata: Easy and Cheap

7. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 7 CNEF Cross National Equivalent File Organization: Consortium of Universities and Instituts (Cornell, Essex, Melbourne, DIW, Statistics Canada) Funding: Universities and Institutes and some Funding by NIA Access to Microdata: Easy and Cheap

8. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 8 ECHP European Community Household Panel Organization: EUROSTAT Funding: National Statistical agencies and EUROSTAT Access to Microdata: Difficult and Expansive

9. OECD World Forum “Statistics, Knowledge and Policy”, Palermo, 10-13 November 2004 9 Role of OECD ? Funding International Surveys ? Funding and Maintaining of Harmonized National Surveys?