1. Current status of BTS & CS harmonisation in non-EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries
The 4th joint EU-OECD Workshop on
Business and Consumer Opinion Surveys
Brussels October 2009
Elena Tosetto (OECD), Gyorgy Gyomai (OECD)
Current status of BTS & CS harmonisation

2. Outline
Introduction
OECD Harmonised System of BTS: some quick instructions
Overview of the current status of the harmonisation of the surveys in non-EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries by sector
Summary table of the current status of the harmonisation (rough indication)
Conclusions
Current status of BTS & CS harmonisation

3. Introduction
Globalisation: comparisons between countries and regions crucial
The EU Directorate General for Economic and Financial Affairs established standard framework for BTS during 1970s.
The OECD & the EU worked to adapt this system for use by other countries in Europe and Central Asia.
Asian Pacific countries, Latin America and Caribbean region: implementation of the harmonised BTS underway
Following from Nilsson (2003), overview enlarged to more sectors and more countries:
Non-EU OECD Countries: Australia, Canada, Japan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, South Korea, Switzerland, Turkey and Unites States
OECD enhanced engaged economies: Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa
OECD (Non-EU) accession countries: Chile and Israel
Sectors: Industry, Construction, Retail Trade, Services and Consumer Survey
Review based on information available and methodological information sent by the countries after an OECD request by (July-August 2009)
Current status of BTS & CS harmonisation

4. OECD Harmonised System of BTS: quick instructions
Complete and detailed description:
OECD “Business Tendency Surveys: a Handbook”
freely available on the OECD website at
Aim of BTS: monitor and forecast Short Term economic developments
Sectors most sensitive to cyclical fluctuations: Industry, Construction, Retail Trade and Services
To check inter-country comparability: frequency, coverage and format of the survey questions
Current status of BTS & CS harmonisation

5. BTS in industry in Non-EU OECD countries: Coverage and Format of questions in individual countries corresponding to harmonised questions

6. BTS in industry in OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries: Coverage and Format of questions
Frequency: Majority of countries surveyed conducts quarterly surveys
Coverage (necessary condition): Good (broadly speaking)
Format (step forward): The most harmonised industry survey
Non-EU OECD countries: Switzerland ( 10 over 11 harmonised questions)
OECD enhanced engaged economies & OECD accession countries: Brazil, Russia, South Africa (9 or 8 over 11)

7. BTS in Construction and Retail Trade in Non-EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries: Coverage and Format

8. BTS in Services in Non-EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries: Coverage and Format
Frequency: Majority quarterly surveys
(monthly: Mexico, Chile, Switzerland (Retail Trade), and the USA)
Coverage (necessary condition): Good (broadly speaking)
Format (step forward): The most harmonised surveys:
Non-EU OECD countries: Switzerland (Construction and Services: 7 over 10 and 5 over 9) and
New Zealand (Retail: 7 over 10)
OECD enhanced engaged economies & OECD accession countries: South Africa (Construction & Retail)

9. Consumer surveys in Non-EU OECD countries: Coverage and Format of questions

10. Consumer surveys in OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries: Coverage and Format of questions
Frequency: Majority monthly (quarterly: New Zealand, Switzerland, Turkey and South Africa)
Coverage (necessary condition): Good (broadly speaking)
Format (step forward): Difference mostly on the horizon

11. Overview of the harmonisation status of the BTS & CS in the Non EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries : Introduction
Overview based on coverage & format
Rough indication, no mechanical role should be applied (different importance of questions not considered)
BTS: scale 1 to 5
1 = low harmonisation: num. harmonised questions (h) in format are less than ⅓ of the total h < ⅓;
2 = weak harmonisation: ⅓ ≤ h ≤ ½;
3 = can be improved: ½ < h ≤ ⅔;
4 = good harmonisation: ⅔ < h < 1;
5 = perfect harmonisation.
CS: UM’s coverage as benchmark (good coverage)

12. Overview of the harmonisation status of the BTS & CS in the Non EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries : Summary tables

13. Overview of the harmonisation status of the BTS & CS in the Non EU OECD countries, OECD enhanced engagement economies and OECD accession countries : Comments
Manufacturing/Industry survey: more largely conducted, most harmonised (in gen. the first BTS)
Other surveys: increasing importance
Coverage: necessary condition for international comparisons
Harmonisation of the format: step forward (better and easier comparisons)
Among Non-EU OECD countries: Switzerland best combination harmonisation and coverage
Among OECD enhanced engaged economies & OECD accession countries: South Africa and Chile best situations
No English translation (at the time of the review): Indonesia (BTS), China (BTS & CS)
No questionnaires: Retail Trade & Services for Brazil
No information from India and South Korea

14. Conclusions
Globalisation: comparisons between countries and regions crucial
Adoption harmonised BTS and CS = further progress
Actual analysis = Mixed picture (compare to Nilsson, 2003):
Improvements: Mexico, Brazil, South Africa
Step back: Canada, India
Accession countries: Chile (good level)

15. Thank you