1. Main Updates to the CES Recommendations
Jean-Michel Durr
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

2. CES Recommendations for the 2020 Censuses of Population and Housing
Prepared between September 2012 and May 2015 under the work programme of the CES
Adopted by the CES at its 63rd plenary session in June 2015.
Prepared in close collaboration with Eurostat
Also in conjunction with the revision of the global P&R by the UNSD.
Expected to be used as the general framework for the EU programme for the round of censuses from which data are to be provided to Eurostat by Member States under the provisions of Regulation (EC) 763/2008.
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

3. 2010 Contents 2020 1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

4. Methodology More emphasis on: Technology: more focus on:
Use of administrative registers and multi-modal approach to data collection
Closer examination of the benefits and disadvantages of the different methodologies
Technology: more focus on:
Internet data collection
GIS for both data collection and output dissemination
Use of new technology in adopting new methodologies
Outsourcing particular emphasis on the need to:
Have good project management skills in house
Strict protection of data confidentiality that satisfies the general public
Guaranteed measures of quality assurance
Ability to manage and monitor the outsources activities
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

5. Topics to include (Relevance)
Each census topic should meet a number of key user requirement criteria:
The topic carries a strong and clearly defined user need, and is of major national importance and relevant at the local level;
Data on the topic are required for small population groups and/or at detailed geographical levels, and are expected to be used in multivariate analyses with other census topics respecting data confidentiality principles;
Data to be collected has been shown to be reliable and accurate;
Content does not differ drastically from previous censuses and where appropriate any new or modified topic can still provide comparison with previous censuses..
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

6. Topics to include (Relevance)
The user requirement for data should be balanced against a number of other factors. A topic should NOT be included in a census if:
It is sensitive or potentially intrusive, or requires lengthy explanations or instructions to collect;
It imposes an excessive burden on the population, or seeks information not readily known;
Its inclusion is likely to have a detrimental impact on coverage or the quality of the information collected;
It enquires about opinions or attitudes; or
It is likely to present major coding problems or extensive processing or significantly add to the overall cost of the census
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

7. Dissemination
Expands material previously published in 2010 Recommendations
Importance of online access through NSI websites
Develop products that allow statistical and geographical information to be delivered together
Importance of maintaining confidentiality and credibility of detailed cross- tabulations
Caution about the risks of producing provisional output
Increasing use and value of thematic mapping and data visualisation
Publication of a reliable timetable and a steady stream of outputs to maintain public interest
Data should be free at the point of access or delivery, charges for customised products should be reasonable
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

8. Quality Management
Consolidates separate sections of the 2010 Recommendations into a single chapter
The need for a quality management programme
A quality management framework
Setting quality targets
Quality design
Operation quality control
Quality assurance and improvement
Quality evaluation and reporting
Ensuring quality in an outsourcing environment
Appendix: Quality management programme implementation
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

9. Changes in Core – Non Core Topics
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15 June 2017

10. Place of usual residence
CES 2010:
CES 2020:
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

11. Geographic Characteristics
Population grid (1km2) (new derived core topic)
Degree of urbanisation (new derived core topic)
New classification for place of work
Merge transport to work with transport to place of education
The degree of urbanisation creates a classification of local administrative
units/municipalities as follows:
(a) Densely populated areas have more than 50 per cent of their population
living in high-density clusters (urban centres).
(b) Intermediate density areas have more than 50 per cent of their population
living in urban clusters, but are not densely populated areas.
(c) Thinly populated area has more than 50 per cent of their population living in
rural grid cells.
436. Degree of urbanization may also be used to create an alternative classification of
areas as being either 'urban' or 'rural', with intermediate and densely populated areas being
classified as 'urban’ while thinly populated areas are classified as 'rural'.
437. In the above classification of local administrative units/municipalities, the following
definitions, population and density thresholds should be used:
(a) High-density clusters (urban centres) are clusters of contiguous grid cells of 1
kmÇ with a density of at least 1,500 inhabitants per km2 and a minimum
population of 50,000. Contiguity for high-density clusters does not include
the ‘diagonal’ (that is, cells with only the corners touching), and gaps in the
cluster are filled (that is, those cells surrounded by high-density cells).
(b) Urban clusters are clusters of contiguous grid cells of 1 km2 with a density of
at least 300 inhabitants per km2 and a minimum population of 5,000. The
same ‘contiguity’ rule for high-density clusters, described at (a), also applies,
but gaps in the cluster are not filled (that is, cells surrounded by urban cells).
(c) Rural grid cells are grid cells which do not belong to an urban cluster.
The following classification is recommended:
(1.0) Same minor civil division as place of residence
(2.0) Other minor civil division within same major civil division as place of
residence
(3.0) Other major civil division
(4.0) Abroad
(5.0) Other place of work
(5.1) Offshore installation
(5.2) No fixed place of work
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

12. Demographic Characteristics
Legal marital status expanded to include same-sex relationships
New classification of de jure and de facto marital status
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

13. Economic Characteristics
Need to conform to new ILO recommendations, concepts and terminology:
Economic activity -> Work
Current activity status -> Labour force status
No more Usual activity status
Recognition of voluntary work and unpaid trainee work as forms of work
Economically inactive -> Outside the labour force
Revised classification for Status in employment
Time-related under-employment is dropped
New section on Participation in forms of work other than employment
Income is now ‘Household income’
Status un Employment:
Before:
(1.0) "Employees", among whom it may be possible to distinguish "employees with stable
contracts" (including "regular employees")
(2.0) "Employers"
(3.0) "Own-account workers"
(4.0) "Contributing family workers"
(5.0) "Members of producers' co-operatives"
(6.0) "Persons not classifiable by status"
Now:
(1.0) Employees
(2.0) Self-employed
(2.1) Employers
(2.2) Own-account workers and members of producers’
cooperatives
(2.2.1) Own-account workers
(2.2.2) Members of producers’ cooperatives
(2.3) Contributing family workers
(3.0) Persons not classifiable by status
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

14. Agriculture
Agricultural production activities reflect new revision of International Standard Industrial Classification
Included in chapter on Economic characteristics
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

15. Education Characteristics
Revision to ISCED classification – new levels added
Level 0: Less than primary education
Level 7: Master’s degree or equivalent level
Level 8: Doctoral or equivalent level
Field of study is now Field of education and training
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

16. Ethno-Cultural Characteristics
Consultation with community leaders recommended
Sensitivity of questions such as ethnicity and religion and the need to assure confidentiality is stressed
Ethnicity should be acquired through self-declaration of a respondent.
Census questions should provide, in addition to any pre-coded response options, the facility for write-in (open) responses
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

17. Household and Family Characteristics
Expanded discussion on the Homeless
Specific section on same-sex partnerships is deleted
New classification for internet connection
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

18. Housing Characteristics
Homeless no longer considered as a housing topic
Location of living quarters no longer treated as a separate topic (same as location of usual residence)
Classification of Number of rooms suggested
Recognition that some ‘core’ topics may not be justified (such as Water supply, Toilet, Bathing facilities)
Non-core topic Cooking facilities is dropped
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

19. Overview of Approaches for Census
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

20. Census Quality Challenges
Relevance
Public Acceptance
Accuracy
Costs
Timeliness
Accessibility
Relevance:
Census has limitations in the number of questions (cost, burden, sensitivity)
Public acceptance:
Issue of confidentiality and trust
Duration of interview > burden
Usefulness of the census
Accuracy:
Many censuses face under of over coverage due to various reasons (quality of field staff, refusals, field organisation…). 5% under-coverage for a 10 million country is 500,000 individuals lost.
Costs:
Huge costs of the census. Pb in developing countries to find donors and in developed countries the budget
Timeliness:
Usually only once in a decade, and several years to get complete results.
Accessibility:
Access to data for various categories of users. From lay users to researchers.
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

21. Baseline: the ”Traditional” Census
Full field door to door enumeration taken in a given limited period immediately near to a given reference date (census day).
Data generally recorded on census questionnaires, either in paper or, increasingly, electronic format, or via internet.
Two major methods of enumeration:
Information is recorded directly by an enumerator (or interviewer)
Household members complete the questionnaire on their own (self- completion).
Still in use in the majority of countries
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

22. Traditional Census Features
Individual Direct Enumeration
Defined Periodicity
Simultaneity
Universality
Small Area Data
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

23. How to manage the challenges?
Relaxing the criteria of individual direct enumeration
Relaxing the criteria of simultaneity
Introducing new technologies
Improving organisation
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

24. Relax the criteria of individual direct enumeration
Using sample surveys:
Long form: Relevance, Accuracy, Costs, Burden, Small-area
Indirect enumeration using administrative sources:
Combined census: registers + full field enumeration: Relevance, Accuracy
Combined census: registers + sample field data: Relevance, Accuracy, Burden, Costs, Small-area
Register based census: Relevance, Accuracy, Burden, Costs, Timeliness, Universality
Long form also introduced complexity in the organisation of the census
Register-based: only population in the register (homeless? Undocumented?)
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

25. Relax the criteria of simultaneity
Combine data collected over a period of time:
Decennial headcount + continuous survey (USA: ACS): Relevance, Accuracy, Costs, Burden, Timeliness, Simultaneity, Small-area
Rolling census (France): Relevance, Accuracy, Costs, Burden, Timeliness, Simultaneity, Small-area (in municipalities > 10,000 inh.)
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

26. Introduce technology
GIS for cartographic preparation and dissemination: Accuracy, Costs, Timeliness, Accessibility
Handheld devices (PDA, tablets) for data collection: Accuracy, Timeliness, Costs neutral
Web response: Accuracy, Costs, Timeliness, Burden, Confidentiality
E-monitoring: Accuracy
E-monitoring: when using electronic census (tablet, web) monitoring of the quality of data already collected
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

27. Improve organisation For example:
Expand period of data collection to reduce the number of enumerators in order to better select and train them, and reduce the number of handheld devices: Accuracy, Costs
Reinforce supervision: Accuracy
More strict selection of enumerators: Accuracy
Better training: Accuracy …
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017

28. Jean-Michel Durr jmdurr@jmstat.com
Thank you
Jean-Michel Durr
1st meeting of the TCG Group - Budapest
15 June 2017