1. Frequent but untimely data in LAC Joao Pedro Azevedo LCSPP 4/20/20111Are we in trouble?

2. The Context Heterogeneous region – High capacity middle income countries – Low capacity IDA countries Multiple stakeholders – Demand and Supply 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?2

3. Yes, there is frequent data in the region… CountryMeanAvg. MinAvg. MaxN Latin America Subtotal2000.11989.82008.1238 The Caribbean Subtotal1999.71996.72001.825 Total1999.71991.52006.5263 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?3 Summary statistics of Household survey years from the LAC region:

4. … and it is getting better. 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?4

5. And this is happening not just in terms of the standard household survey… Population census Agriculture census Labor Force Surveys Living Standard Surveys Income and Expenditure Surveys Administrative records Market research data Tailored made surveys for specific programs 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?5

6. But this is still not good enough, when the crisis hit, several countries did not know what was happening to their population… CountryMeanMinMaxN Bolivia2000.4199220078 Mexico1999.51989200811 Nicaragua1999.3199320054 El Salvador2001.11991200814 Bahamas2001.02001 1 Belice1996.2199319995 Dominican R.2003.21996200912 Haiti2001.02001 1 Jamaica1997.6199020025 Suriname1999.01999 1 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?6 Just to name the ones in which there are data delays… several Caribbean islands still do not have regular surveys

7. MEXICO - Labor Income Poverty Index (LIPI) (U$ 2.5 a day) Q1 2005 – Q4 2010 20 April 20117Are we in trouble?

8. Some challenges… 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?8 Coordination (internal and external) Documentation and Access Harmonization and Comparability – Ex-ante – Ex-post Not enough rigorous designs to improve survey instruments in the region Little data to understand mobility in the region

9. How the next two weeks can help… Improvements in data collection (i.e. continuous household surveys) Exploring alternative always to use existing data (i.e. LIPI and imputation methods) New ways of collecting data (i.e. mobile phone) Better ways to manage data Coordination initiatives (i.e. poverty committees) 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?9

10. LAC Team for Statistical Development 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?10

11. LAC Data Portal 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?11

12. Microdata Harmonization 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?12

13. IT TAKES TIME AND RESOURCES … But make no mistake. 4/20/2011Are we in trouble?13