1. The Household Budget Surveys in the Candidate Countries
Household Budget Surveys Working Group May 2003
The Household Budget Surveys in the Candidate Countries
Item V.3.b) of the agenda

2. The Household Budget Surveys in the Candidate Countries
Household Budget Surveys Working Group May 2003
The Household Budget Surveys in the Candidate Countries
1. Introduction
2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the
Candidate Countries
3. Conclusion

3. 1. Introduction
The process of enlargement of the EU has created new requests for statistical information about the Candidate Countries
Two types of actions are being carried out:
To develop ad-hoc projects in order to fill current gaps of statistical information of the CC
To prepare the integration of the CC in the ESS as fully active members before they become Member States
In this context, since June 2002 Eurostat has gathered different types of information about the HBS on the CC. Part of this information is presented here

4. 1. Introduction
The methodological information presented in this document has two main purposes:
To allow the assessment of the comparability of the data tables supplied by the CC for the reference year 1999
To supply essential information required to plan the integration of the CC to the next round of HBS (for the r.y. 2005)
The information presented here is provisional because it is still under elaboration

5. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Main objectives

6. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Frequency

7. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Sampling frame

8. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Sample design

9. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Response rates and representativity

10. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Definition of household

11. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Definition of household membership

12. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Head of household

13. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Child-adult definition

14. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Concept of consumption expenditure

15. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Evaluation of goods and services for own final consumption

16. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Evaluation of imputed rents for owners-occupiers

17. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Transactions in existing goods

18. 2. Main characteristics of the HBS in the Candidate Countries
Recording of health, education and other social benefits

19. 3. Conclusion Strong points: All CC conduct HBS regularly
Generally, HBS in the CC are well organised and have good quality
Surveys are annual in 11 countries
Availability to participate in the EU HBS project
Weak points:
Problems of harmonisation
No imputed rents for housing in eight countries