United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division The CES Recommendations as a basis for the Census Questionnaires Angela Me, Chief Social

United Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical DivisionUnited Nations Economic Commission for EuropeStatistical Division

The CES Recommendations as a basis for the Census

Questionnaires

Angela Me, Chief Social and Demographic Statistics Section

- UNECE Statistical DivisionDushanbe, 12-16 March 2007

Slide 2

CES Recommendations

Methodology

Technology (latest developments)

Census Topics

To illustrate different approaches, not to recommend

To recommend a core set of topics and for each topic (core and not core) to recommend definitions, classifications


Slide 3

CES Recommendations

The objectives of the Recommendations are:

To provide guidance and assistance to countries in the planning and conducting of their population and housing census

To facilitate and improve the comparability of the census data at regional level


Slide 4

CES Recommendations

How can the Recommendations help in designing a census questionnaire?

To make decisions on the topics to be included To define topics and their classifications To phrase questions


Slide 5

CES Recommendations

To make decision on the topics to be included considering……

The demand for data at national and local levels The availability of data from other statistical

sources The constrains of the census for data collection

International/Regional comparability

National debate but the Recommendations provide criteria

CES Recommendations: core and non-core


Slide 6

Selection of census topics

List of core and non-core topics in Appendix 1


Slide 7


What are the criteria for a topic to BE included in the census?


Slide 8

The CES Recommendations Criteria to INCLUDE the topic in the census

It carries a strong and clearly defined user need There are no other means than the census to collect

data Data are required for small population/geographical

groups It is of major national importance and relevant at local

level Data are expected to be used in multivariate analysis

with other census topics The content does not differ drastically from previous

censuses and can still provide comparison


Slide 9


What are the criteria for a topic NOT to BE included in the census?


Slide 10

The CES Recommendations Criteria to EXCLUDE the topic from the census

It is sensitive or potentially intrusive or require lengthy explanations

It imposes an excessive burden on respondents or seeks information not readily known or that people are unlikely to remember

It enquires about opinions or attitudes It is likely to present major coding problems or

extensive processing or significantly add to the overall cost of the census


Slide 11

The CES Recommendations help to define the topics and their classifications

A clarification….

The Recommendations are output oriented and define what topic/data need to be obtained. It is left to the countries to decide how the topic/data can be collected


Slide 12

Example: Main source of livelihood (non-core topic)

The "main source of livelihood" is the principal source of income from which the consumption of each person was financed during a specified reference period. It is recommended that preference is given to a long reference period, such as the preceding twelve months, calendar year or financial year, in order to take account of sources which may actually provide an income at periodic or seasonal intervals (such as income from seasonal activities, payment of quarterly benefits from pension plans, annual payment of scholarships or dividends, income from intermittent secondary activities, etc.). Income in kind as well as in cash should be taken into account.


Slide 13

Example: Main source of livelihood (non-core topic)

It is suggested that the following main sources of livelihood should be distinguished:

(1.0) Employment:(1.1) Wage employment(1.2) Self-employment

(2.0) Property and other investments(3.0) Pensions of all types

(3.1) Paid by the State and other public bodies(3.2) Paid by enterprises, institutions, co-operative organizations and others

(4.0) Other transfers:(4.1) Sickness and maternity allowances(4.2) Unemployment benefits and relief(4.3) Scholarship(4.4) Benefits and assistance other than pensions, unemployment benefits, scholarship, and

sickness and maternity allowances, provided by the State, other public bodies, co-operative organizations, enterprises or institutions

(5.0) Loans or reduction of savings, realisation of capital(6.0) Dependent (mainly supported by another person or persons)(7.0) Other sources


Slide 14

The CES Recommendations

Classifications are presented at different level of details. For core topics not all digit-levels are recommended


Slide 15

The CES Recommendations help to design questions

They define the scope of the topic In same cases, they suggest question

wording (disability) They provide suggestions for response

categories


Slide 16

The CES Recommendations also ….

Present the relevance of each topic

Present for some topics the comparative advantage in relation to other census topics and other data collection activities (ex: economic characteristics)


Slide 17

The CES Recommendations

DO NOT include a tabulation programme

A tabulation programme is presented at global level

Dissemination of census data is more dynamic than in the past so less need for a tabulation programme


Slide 18

The UN Global Census Recommendations

They are also a good source of standards on definitions and classifications of census topics

The two Recommendations are in general consistent, but the CES Recommendations are more detailed and more specific for the region

The two Recommendations are complementary and should be used together

Documents

United Nations Economic Commission for Europe Statistical Division The CES Recommendations as a basis for the Census Questionnaires Angela Me, Chief Social