The implementation programme for the 2008 SNA and supporting statistics

UNSD-Regional Commissions Coordination Meeting on Integrated Economic Statistics

and Environmental Accounts

19 February 2011, New York, USAUNSDUNSD

Introduction Objectives Elements of the implementation

programme

Outline of presentation

The Implementation Programme for the 2008 SNA and supporting statistics represents a global statistical initiative.

UNSC in Feb 2010 supported the implementation programme and encouraged countries to develop their own programmes of implementation

INTRODUCTION

To assist countries in developing the statistical and institutional capacity to:

(a) Make the conceptual change over from the 1993 SNA to the 2008 SNA

(b) Improve the scope, detail and quality of the national accounts and

supporting economic statistics.

Objective of the Global Statistical Initiative

The efficiency and sustainability of the initiative rest on the agreed principles of the implementation strategy:

(a) strategic planning

(b) coordination, monitoring and reporting

(c) improving statistical systems

Principles of the global initiative

(a) Use of National Strategies for the Development of Statistics (NSDS) as the strategic planning framework(b) The programme information structure built around the statistical production process, scope and compliance for the national accounts and supporting economic statistics (c) The modalities of statistical capacity building through training and technical cooperation, publication of manuals and handbooks, research and advocacy(d) The stages of implementation leading to the change over to the 2008 SNA.

Elements to operationalise the initiative

Three stagesReviewAdaptationApplication

Each country will determine the duration of the various stages. However, it is expected that from 2014 onwards, many Member States will change over to the 2008 SNA

Common criteria of achievement for each stage of implementation reflected in 6 milestone, minimum data sets, compliance questionnaire and quality assessment.

Implementation stages

Review of strategic framework and detailing of national and regional implementation programmes◦ Determine:

Where you are Where you want to go How to get there

Stage I - Review

Where you are diagnosis of current situation together with national and

international stakeholders – UNSD developed a diagnostic tool (DT)

Where you want to go strategic vision for national accounts and supporting

statistics shared among stakeholders How to get there

implementation plan based on agreed priorities with a minimum set of core indicators

Coordination and monitoring mechanisms in tracking the progress UNSD website: http://unstats.un.org/unsd/nationalaccount/imp.asp RC to provide links

Stage I - Review

Stage II. Adaptation of classification frameworks, business registers and frames, surveys, administrative data sources and information technology infrastructure;

Stage II - Adaption

Stage III. Application of adapted frameworks and source data, backcasting and changeover to 2008 SNA.

Stage III - Application

How do the present regional programmes reflect roadmap to achieve the goals of Stage 1, 2 and 3?

How might we assist countries to draft their implementation programmes and realise quick wins on accessibility of existing data?

Discussion

Guidelines for monitoring the 2008 SNA implementation Similar to the scope and compliance measures

developed by the ISWGNA for monitoring implementation of the 1993 SNA, with some updates.

Reminder: Measures for monitoring the implementation the 1993 SNA:◦ Six milestones◦ Required data sets◦ Conceptual compliance questionnaire◦ Data-quality assessment of national accounts

1993 SNA Implementation:Milestones Measures Set of six milestones to assess the scope of

compiled accounts (adopted at the twenty-ninth session of the Commission)

Purpose:◦ To provide guidance to countries expanding the scope

of NA coverage in line with the 1993 SNA.◦ To serve as monitoring instrument for the level of NA

development at different points in time.◦ To identify groups of countries (by type or by region)

that would need particular attention from the international community.

1993 SNA Implementation:Milestones Measures Limitations of milestone measures:

◦ Countries interpreted them as the required order in which additions to their NAs had to be made.

◦ Because some countries require different degrees of implementation, the milestones can misrepresent the implementation levels (e.g.: complete implementation for countries with a narrow range of activities represents a smaller subset of the SNA).

◦ The milestones make no reference to conceptual or quality issues of data.

1993 SNA Implementation:Required Data Sets Developed due to the limitations of the milestone

approach (approved at the thirty-second session of the Commission).

Three data sets describing:◦ (a) Minimum set of accounts that need to be compiled

(MRDS) - Essentially a groups together the accounts recommended in milestones 1 and 2.

◦ (b) Recommended set of accounts – In addition to annual accounts, includes several quarterly accounts because of their importance in assessing developments of an economy.

◦ (c) Desired set of accounts – useful data to be compiled if possible

2008 SNA Implementation:Required Data Sets Adjustments to the 1993 SNA required data

sets:◦ MRDS broadened to include the compilation of:

Quarterly accounts for nominal and volume measures of GDP by industry or expenditure.

Quarterly accounts for the integrated accounts up to net lending for the total economy and the rest of the world.

Annual accounts up to net lending for the institutional sectors (corporate, government, households and non-profit institutions serving households).

2008 SNA Implementation:Required Data Sets

◦ Recommended set of accounts broadened to include: Annual accounts up to net lending for the

institutional sectors (corporate, government, households and non-profit institutions serving households).

Annual compilation of sectoral financial accounts and sectoral balance sheets and other changes in assets.

◦ Desirable set of accounts broadened to include: Quarterly compilation of sectoral financial accounts

and sectoral balance sheets and other changes in assets.

2008 SNA Implementation:Conceptual Compliance Questionnaire Compliance questionnaire adjusted to

reflect 2008 SNA concepts. Same objective: to determine the extent of

implementation of important concepts in the 1993 SNA affecting the level of GDP, gross capital formation and gross national income.

ISWGNA will later assess the need to expand the compliance questionnaire to include other 2008 SNA concepts.

1993 SNA Implementation:Data-quality assessment framework Developed by the IMF to assess the quality of NA and other

macroeconomic statistics. Follows a cascading structure that begins with a set of

prerequisites and five dimensions of quality: ◦ Integrity, Methodological soundness, Accuracy and reliability,

Serviceability, Accessibility. Used by the IMF to prepare the data module of Reports on

the Observance of Standards and Codes (Data ROSCs) of its Member States.

Can be used for self-assessment by national statistical offices.

The framework is undergoing review to incorporate recent changes in statistical methodologies

2008 SNA Implementation:Activities of ISWGNA Actively pursued, in cooperation with countries and the

regional commissions, the implementation of the 2008 SNA and supporting statistics.

Activities focus on:◦ The modalities of statistical capacity building.◦ On clarifying the implementation of new guidelines for issues such

as research, emission permits, globalisation and FISIM.◦ Development of handbooks (i.e. Essential SNA, 2008 SNA –

Concepts in brief, and 2008 SNA – Implementation in Brief).◦ Addressing SNA implementation in countries with different levels

of statistical development through: Technical assistance and training workshops. Seminars on regional implementation strategies.

Thank You