1. The implementation of the SDMX standards by the ECB and the European System of Central Banks
Werner Bier (ECB)
Gérard Salou (ECB)
Sami Airo (Bank of Finland)

6. Presentation structure
The SDMX data model and the ESCB systems
ESCB/Eurosystem implementations of the SDMX standards in:
data structures (compliant with the SDMX information model)
data and metadata exchanges using SDMX-EDI (GESMES/TS)
web dissemination
interface to the statistical data warehouse
euro reference exchange rates
euro area aggregates and national breakdowns; example: the Bank of Finland implementation
Costs and benefits
Way ahead; conclusions

7. The SDMX data model (and star schema):
the model is used in all layers of the ECB systems A
FREQUENCY
REF_AREA DE
ADJUSTMENT N
TRANSACTION
B101
ASSET Z
SECTOR
CP_SECTOR
USE_RES 2
DENOM
SUFFIX 08
Observation
34955
TIME PERIOD
2005
…and associated attributes, e.g.
observation status, etc.
& «higher level» attributes, e.g.
units
methodological info, etc

8. Use of (SDMX-based) data structures
In the exchange, storage and dissemination of all data and associated metadata
In the internal system and the communication with partner institutions and the general public (SDMX-ML based extractions from the web site)
Covering most domains of economic statistics (e.g. monetary and financial statistics, balance of payments, price indices, short-term statistics, real sector, government finance statistics, securities, etc.)

9. SDMX-EDI (GESMES/TS) used in all data file-based data exchanges
ECB
7 EU NSIs
ESCB
27 EU central banks
IMF
BIS
EUROSTAT

10. The ECB statistical data warehouse on the web
full support of extractions in SDMX-ML format

11. Euro reference exchange rates
Extractions into
SDMX-ML format

12. Euro area aggregates and national breakdowns
ECB web site contents ● SDMX-ML ● mirrored NCB sources

13. Example: the ECB web page
Extractions into
SDMX-ML format

14. The mirrored Bank of Finland implementation
Euro area aggregates and national breakdowns
The mirrored Bank of Finland implementation

15. Example: the Bank of Finland (BoF) web page

16. How does this work? ECB database XML Data from ECB database SDMX v1
XSL Layout of ECB web site
XSL Layout of BoF web site

17. SDMX-EDI data exchanges at BoF
Statistics
Finland
ECB
EUROSTAT
ETLA
OECD
BIS
IMF

18. Euro area aggregates and national breakdowns
Achievements
The ESCB statistics sites appear as a co-ordinated network with an entry point in all national central banks (NCBs)
Users do not have to leave the NCB web site to consult ESCB data
Look and feel of NCB web site can be applied
Data is available in all Eurosystem national languages
Translation into national language is done by XSL file and key family metadata

19. SDMX implementations: costs and benefits
Initial investment in tools and expertise (small if there is already a proper database infrastructure);
Maintenance (negligible, as compared with less automated means and tools)
Benefits:
Automation; efficiency; resources can be shifted to more important activities
Minimum problem solving;
Statistical harmonisation
Common “language” and easy data sharing with others
Flexibility; very fast and easy adaptation to other domains
Rich metadata coverage
Easy response to new requirements
Great service to researchers; and to other domestic, European and other continents’ institutions
structural metadata maintenance;
technical maintenance

20. SDMX implementations: costs and benefits
Rough estimates
SDMX implementations in bulk data exchange -
estimated savings: (at least) 120 FTE per year;
also, lifespan of initial investment has been spectacular! The need for (very tiny only) changes in the basic technical infrastructure (write/read/load applications) has been negligible.
SDMX benefits from the web dissemination:
so far, mainly to the ECB/NCBs profile and credibility, benefits to the general public and other institutions;
drastically reduced costs by not needing anymore “to send” data to institutions with which there are special agreements;
benefits become even more significant (also for home and third parties’ users) as more and more institutions implement

21. A world-wide implementation: way ahead
More SDMX implementations across the globe
Reducing costs of data sharing to a minimum
The ECB already offers euro area data in SDMX-ML (easily downloadable by other institutions’ applications)
ECB users keen to benefit from the implementations of other continents’ institutions

22. Questions? http://www.ecb.int/stats/html/index.en.html
Further information on the ECB statistics and SDMX:
and then: “Data services”
(ECB)
(Bank of Finland)
Thank you!