1. Agenda item: 13 DEVELOPMENT OF UNITED NATIONS GUIDELINES AND RECOMMENDATIONS ON DISTRIBUTIVE TRADE STATISTICS (BOTH STRUCTURAL AND SHORT-TERM) OECD Short-term Economic Statistics Working Party (STESWP) Paris 25-27 June 2007

2. AIMS OF THIS SESSION Focus will be on OECD assistance to UNSD on the revision of existing international standards on distributive trade statistics (EPH) Focus will be on OECD assistance to UNSD on the revision of existing international standards on distributive trade statistics (EPH) Start off with an overview of recent UN work on the development of international statistical guidelines Start off with an overview of recent UN work on the development of international statistical guidelines Implications for future co-operation between STESWP and UNSD and other UN agencies Implications for future co-operation between STESWP and UNSD and other UN agencies Brief outline of modular approach to developing international standards Brief outline of modular approach to developing international standards

3. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES? There are many types of international statistical publications There are many types of international statistical publications Often confusion with what is meant by terms: international statistical standard, international recommendations, guidelines, handbook or manual Often confusion with what is meant by terms: international statistical standard, international recommendations, guidelines, handbook or manual UNSD prepared a taxonomy – Presented at Work session convened by Friends of the Chair (FROCH) Group on Integrated economic statistics in Bern on 6-8 June 2007 UNSD prepared a taxonomy – Presented at Work session convened by Friends of the Chair (FROCH) Group on Integrated economic statistics in Bern on 6-8 June 2007

4. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES? International statistical standards An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics. Should be internally coherent and consistent to the maximum extent possible with other international statistical standards. International recommendations An internationally agreed intermediate output framework consisting of an agreed list of data items with agreed concepts, definitions and classifications often for a well-defined statistical domain. Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope. Guidelines, handbooks and manuals Contain data collection and compilation guidance based on best practices. Words “guidelines”, “manual”, “handbook” are used interchangeably

5. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES? International statistical standards An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics. Should be internally coherent and consistent to the maximum extent possible with other international statistical standards. International recommendations An internationally agreed intermediate output framework consisting of an agreed list of data items with agreed concepts, definitions and classifications often for a well-defined statistical domain. Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope. Guidelines, handbooks and manuals Contain data collection and compilation guidance based on best practices. Words “guidelines”, “manual”, “handbook” are used interchangeably From a UN perspective the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC) has the authority to approve global standards and recommendations prepared by advisory committees, city groups, expert groups, etc.

6. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES? International statistical standards An internationally agreed statistical macroeconomic output framework or a cross-functional framework. The elements of the framework comprise: concepts, definitions, classifications and inter-related tables or accounts integrating broad sets of statistics. Should be internally coherent and consistent to the maximum extent possible with other international statistical standards. International recommendations An internationally agreed intermediate output framework consisting of an agreed list of data items with agreed concepts, definitions and classifications often for a well-defined statistical domain. Differ from statistical standards in that they do not use a system approach which integrates information from different areas of statistics in a common framework. Also often have a narrower scope. Guidelines, handbooks and manuals Contain data collection and compilation guidance based on best practices. Words “guidelines”, “manual”, “handbook” are used interchangeably e.g. SNA BPM e.g. SNA BPM e.g. International Recommendations for Industrial Statistics International Recommendations for Distributive Trade Statistics e.g. International Recommendations for Industrial Statistics International Recommendations for Distributive Trade Statistics e.g. Manual of Statistics on International Trade in Services National Accounts – A Practical Introduction e.g. Manual of Statistics on International Trade in Services National Accounts – A Practical Introduction

7. WHAT ARE INTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL GUIDELINES? An unstructured list of international standards was prepared by UNSD for the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 An unstructured list of international standards was prepared by UNSD for the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 A more comprehensive list is available at UNSD’s Methodological Publications in Statistics website - Created at the request of the UNSC in 1999 A more comprehensive list is available at UNSD’s Methodological Publications in Statistics website - Created at the request of the UNSC in 1999 [http://unstats.un.org/unsd/progwork/pwabout.asp]http://unstats.un.org/unsd/progwork/pwabout.asp

8. RECENT UN WORK ON DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS AND GUIDELINES International recommendations on distributive trade statistics International recommendations on distributive trade statistics SNA update / revision SNA update / revision International recommendations for industrial statistics International recommendations for industrial statistics International recommendations on distributive trade statistics International recommendations on distributive trade statistics SNA update / revision SNA update / revision International recommendations for industrial statistics International recommendations for industrial statistics

9. IMPLICATIONS FOR FUTURE CO- OPERATION BETWEEN STESWP AND UN AGENCIES Since the inception of STESWP there has been close co- operation / co-ordination of further improvement of co- operation with EurostatSince the inception of STESWP there has been close co- operation / co-ordination of further improvement of co- operation with Eurostat Not so close with UN agencies – UNSD becoming more active in the revision of international standards / recommendations at a global levelNot so close with UN agencies – UNSD becoming more active in the revision of international standards / recommendations at a global level OECD has been invited to participate in various UN expert groups working on specific standardsOECD has been invited to participate in various UN expert groups working on specific standards Provides opportunity for STESWP to members to provide comment, etc., into the evolution of these standardsProvides opportunity for STESWP to members to provide comment, etc., into the evolution of these standards However, need to ensure that it does not duplicate national inputsHowever, need to ensure that it does not duplicate national inputs

10. MODULAR APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, RECOMMENDATIONS, MANUALS / HANDBOOKS / GUIDELINES There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007

11. MODULAR APPROACH TO THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS, RECOMMENDATIONS, MANUALS / HANDBOOKS / GUIDELINES There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications There are often considerable overlaps between components of international statistical standards and recommendations – concepts; definitions; and classifications Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Modular approach should be extended to some of the Manuals / Handbooks / Guidelines as advocated in the OECD Presentation Handbook Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 Approach strongly supported by the Work session convened by FROCH Group on Integrated economic statistics in June 2007 On issues such as: Presentation of growth rates Seasonal adjustment Revisions Presentation of metadata Presentation of sapling & non-sampling errors On issues such as: Presentation of growth rates Seasonal adjustment Revisions Presentation of metadata Presentation of sapling & non-sampling errors Standards / guidelines for: the services sector turnover Standards / guidelines for: the services sector turnover

12. Thank you for your attention !