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Overview of Economic Statistics in Overview of Economic Statistics in AfricaAfrica

UNECAUNECAAndry AndriantsehenoAndry Andriantseheno

Regional Workshop on Basic Economic Regional Workshop on Basic Economic StatisticsStatistics

Addis-AbabaAddis-Ababa16-19 October 200716-19 October 2007

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Outline of the presentationOutline of the presentation1.1. Conceptual methodology and compliance with SNAConceptual methodology and compliance with SNA2.2. National accounts tables compiledNational accounts tables compiled3.3. Processing of data sources into national accountsProcessing of data sources into national accounts4.4. Types of economic censuses and surveysTypes of economic censuses and surveys5.5. Coverage of surveys and censusesCoverage of surveys and censuses6.6. Sampling frame and extrapolation methodsSampling frame and extrapolation methods7.7. Methods of enumeration and data collectionMethods of enumeration and data collection8.8. Administrative dataAdministrative data9.9. Institutional issuesInstitutional issues10.10. recommendationsrecommendations

1.1. ConclusionConclusion

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Conceptual compliance Conceptual compliance In the bulk of African, the national accounts compiled In the bulk of African, the national accounts compiled

are largely based on the 1968 SNA, and on the 1993 are largely based on the 1968 SNA, and on the 1993 SNA for 40% of countries. SNA for 40% of countries.

The concept of the 1993 SNA is not fully applied to The concept of the 1993 SNA is not fully applied to conduct surveys and censuses conduct surveys and censuses

The SNA concept are formation of capital, while surveys The SNA concept are formation of capital, while surveys use the concept of investmentuse the concept of investment

Survey results could not be extrapolated to national Survey results could not be extrapolated to national economy due to inadequate sampling frame and economy due to inadequate sampling frame and differential of concept between SNA and the concept differential of concept between SNA and the concept used in the surveys.used in the surveys.

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Tables of National Accounts Tables of National Accounts compiledcompiled

The bulk of African countries are at the milestone 0 or The bulk of African countries are at the milestone 0 or milestone 1 of the implementation of the 1993 SNAmilestone 1 of the implementation of the 1993 SNA

Milestone 0: development of basic data for SNA, Milestone 0: development of basic data for SNA, including market prices, producers prices, surveys and including market prices, producers prices, surveys and censuses. censuses.

Milestone 1: breakdown of the GDP by expenditure and Milestone 1: breakdown of the GDP by expenditure and by industry at current and constant prices by industry at current and constant prices

Less than dozen of countries are compiling the set of Less than dozen of countries are compiling the set of accounts beyond the production account, quarterly accounts beyond the production account, quarterly national accounts and financial accountsnational accounts and financial accounts

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Processing of data sources into SNAProcessing of data sources into SNATwo level of difficulties: (1) availability and quality of data Two level of difficulties: (1) availability and quality of data sources and (2) the processing of data sources into national sources and (2) the processing of data sources into national accounts:accounts:

Several data gaps, including update of business registers, Several data gaps, including update of business registers, informal sector, employment , and services sectors as the Non informal sector, employment , and services sectors as the Non Profit Institutions (NPIs)Profit Institutions (NPIs)

Processing of data sources into national accounts is a very Processing of data sources into national accounts is a very challenging tasks for the National Statistical Offices.challenging tasks for the National Statistical Offices.

Lack of coordination at the Statistical Offices between the Lack of coordination at the Statistical Offices between the various collection or processing unit and the national various collection or processing unit and the national accounts program accounts program

The Statistical offices have other duties such as population The Statistical offices have other duties such as population censuses, prices, trade statistics and household surveys.censuses, prices, trade statistics and household surveys.

Inadequate human ( less than 5 professional working on Inadequate human ( less than 5 professional working on SNA) and financial resources to process available data SNA) and financial resources to process available data sources into SNA, to sources into SNA, to develop bridge tables and interfaces develop bridge tables and interfaces between the survey/censuses and national accountbetween the survey/censuses and national account..

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Types of economic censuses Types of economic censuses and surveysand surveys

The censuses and surveys conducted are:The censuses and surveys conducted are:Population and housing censuses, every 10 or 20 years Population and housing censuses, every 10 or 20 years Various household surveys, every 3 to 5 years Various household surveys, every 3 to 5 years Industrial surveys, every 2-5 yearsIndustrial surveys, every 2-5 yearsAgricultural censuses and surveys, 3-10 yearsAgricultural censuses and surveys, 3-10 yearsCollection of financial statements from companies, Collection of financial statements from companies, annually for the compilation of accounts.annually for the compilation of accounts.Labor force surveys and Informal sector surveysLabor force surveys and Informal sector surveysAbsence of clear definition of an economic censuses Absence of clear definition of an economic censuses and surveysand surveys

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Economic coverage of Economic coverage of censuses and surveyscensuses and surveys

The following sectors, mostly services sectors are less The following sectors, mostly services sectors are less covered by surveys or administrative data sources, this covered by surveys or administrative data sources, this depends on countries depends on countries

Construction and housing Construction and housing Wholesale and retail tradeWholesale and retail trade Hotel and restaurantsHotel and restaurants TransportsTransports Community services, sports and non profit institutionsCommunity services, sports and non profit institutions Labor force and Informal sector Labor force and Informal sector

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Sampling frame and Business Sampling frame and Business RegisterRegister

Business register, part of the process of creation of companies, Business register, part of the process of creation of companies, the units may be the establishment or the enterprisesthe units may be the establishment or the enterprises

Information on activity, owners and type of business Information on activity, owners and type of business respondentsrespondents

The business register is out of date as companies may not be in The business register is out of date as companies may not be in activityactivity

Update of business register is expensive, but critical for Update of business register is expensive, but critical for sampling and extend the result of surveys to the national sampling and extend the result of surveys to the national economyeconomy

Different identity number at the statistical offices, social Different identity number at the statistical offices, social security, VAT…security, VAT…

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Methods of Enumeration and Methods of Enumeration and Data collectionData collection

Interview and personal visitInterview and personal visitInterview and mail: questionnaire are sent Interview and mail: questionnaire are sent by mail and received by respondentsby mail and received by respondentsCollection of financial statement by mail: Collection of financial statement by mail: the Statistical office request for financial the Statistical office request for financial statements from companies, or one of the statements from companies, or one of the recipients of financial statements recipients of financial statements

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Administrative RecordsAdministrative Records Financial statement: special arrangements between Financial statement: special arrangements between

statistics, tax revenue and central banksstatistics, tax revenue and central banks The customs declaration are complemented with The customs declaration are complemented with

surveys on specific commodities such as fuel data for surveys on specific commodities such as fuel data for the compilation of international merchandise trade the compilation of international merchandise trade statistics (IMTS)statistics (IMTS)

Administrative records at line ministries, address the Administrative records at line ministries, address the concern over the qualities of administrative records, concern over the qualities of administrative records, with supplementary surveyswith supplementary surveys

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Institutional IssuesInstitutional Issues Level of collaboration between statistics, central banks and tax Level of collaboration between statistics, central banks and tax

revenue over the sharing of financial statement .revenue over the sharing of financial statement . Level of collaboration between statistics, central banks and Level of collaboration between statistics, central banks and

customs department over the sharing of financial statement.customs department over the sharing of financial statement. In most cases, surveys and censuses are conducted by the In most cases, surveys and censuses are conducted by the

Statistical offices, (a) centralized, the field offices are just Statistical offices, (a) centralized, the field offices are just collecting or (b) decentralized, the field offices collect, process collecting or (b) decentralized, the field offices collect, process the data and send the result to the HQthe data and send the result to the HQ

Censuses and surveys may be conducted by other entities Censuses and surveys may be conducted by other entities within the the national statistical systems, for example the within the the national statistical systems, for example the agricultural or industrial censuses are undertaken by the agricultural or industrial censuses are undertaken by the ministry of agriculture, often, the methodology is inadequate ministry of agriculture, often, the methodology is inadequate and there is a lack of collaboration with the statistical office.and there is a lack of collaboration with the statistical office.

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ChallengesChallenges

Financial resources and human resources,Financial resources and human resources, High staff turnoverHigh staff turnover Low response rate: households and Low response rate: households and companies are reluctant to respond to surveys companies are reluctant to respond to surveys and censusesand censuses

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RecommendationsRecommendations Establish an integrated national system (INS) for the data Establish an integrated national system (INS) for the data

collection on companies, in collaboration with central collection on companies, in collaboration with central banks, tax revenue and line ministries, the INS contains banks, tax revenue and line ministries, the INS contains financial statements, labor forces and other information, financial statements, labor forces and other information, this will avoid the duplication of efforts such as collect of this will avoid the duplication of efforts such as collect of financial statement and industrial surveys.financial statement and industrial surveys.

Update of the business register through cross checking Update of the business register through cross checking with tax registration, social security, the population with tax registration, social security, the population censuses(for formal companies owned by household), and censuses(for formal companies owned by household), and ultimately censuses enumeration of enterprises and ultimately censuses enumeration of enterprises and production units production units

Include an informal sector module in the existing Include an informal sector module in the existing household surveys or labour force surveyshousehold surveys or labour force surveys

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RecommendationsRecommendations Ensure that the SNA concept are used in the Ensure that the SNA concept are used in the

surveys and censuses through involvement of surveys and censuses through involvement of national accountants at the various stages of national accountants at the various stages of statistical operations.statistical operations.

Adequate staffing of national accountants at the Adequate staffing of national accountants at the National Statistical Offices (NSOs), National Statistical Offices (NSOs), over twenty over twenty professionalsprofessionals is highly indicated is highly indicated..

Staff retention policies and intensive trainingsStaff retention policies and intensive trainings

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Thank YouThank You