Measuring & Reducing Statistical Burden
- A case study from Ireland
Steve MacFeelyDirector of Business Statistics & InnovationCentral Statistics Office, Ireland
Outline of Presentation
1. Context & history2. Building a statistical system3. Measuring Burden – 2 approaches4. Reducing Burden5. Tackling Perception6. Blockages & Risks7. Lessons (so far...)
CSO – 5 High Level Goals
1. Improvement in the scope, quality and timeliness of our statistics
2. Minimising the burden on survey respondents
3. Increasing the use of administrative data for statistical purposes
4. Achieving greater efficiencies using best practices
5. Raising public awareness and use of statistics
Demand for statistics
Data Requirements
Domestic International
Building a statistical system
NSB Strategy for Statistics 2003 – 2008
- coherent whole-system approach - harness all the potential of existing data sources- support evidence-based policy making
Statistical Potential of Administrative Records (SPAR)
- 2003 Person & Social- 2005 Enterprise & Environmental - 2008 Taxation- 20?? Local Government?
2003 Government decision – Data/Statistics Strategy
- determine departments data needs (and likely sources) - determine skills required to analyse data
Measuring Burden – Approach 1 (CSO)
Concepts: Questionnaire basedTime taken Actual Compliance
2004 – Pilot burden measurement
2008 – 1st Report on Response Burden placed on Irish Businesses by CSO enquiries, 2007
2009 – Burden question to all enterprise questionnaires
2010 – 1st comprehensive Response Burden Barometer (web only)
Measuring Burden – Approach 2 (Standard Cost Model)
Concepts: Interview basedFull complianceBusiness As Usual
2010 – Standard Cost Model Report: Measurement of administrative burden imposed on Irish businesses by Central Statistics Office inquiries
Approaches 1 & 2 – Summary of key results
• In 2008 over 67% of businesses in Ireland did not receive any inquiries from CSO
• 20% of businesses in 2008 only received a single questionnaire from CSO
• Less than 5% of enterprises received more than 10 forms
• In 2008 CSO imposed an overall burden on businesses of €10.8 million
• CSO inquiries account for less than 1% of total administrative burden
• Between 2007 and 2008 Net burden fell by 7%
• Forecast Net reduction in burden of approximately 19% between 2007 and 2011
Reducing Burden - Actions
Internal- Reduce sample sizes- Re-engineer questionnaires/small business forms- Terminate surveys- Data matching- Re-organisation of business statistics (product to process)- LSS Process mapping review- Create Administrative Data Centre- Create Large Cases Unit
External- Joint Surveys- Formal MOUs- Increased use of administrative data- Automatic data extraction
Results – Change in NET burden
Perception
2006 – HM Government (UK) ONS accounts for 0.3% of total administrative burden
2009 – Stoiber Group European Commission High Level Group of Independent Stakeholders on Administrative Burdens Statistics accounts for €629m or 0.5% of total administrative burden
2010 – CSO Statistics accounts for €10.8m or 0.5% of total administrative burden
Actions to mitigate perception
Response Burden Barometer
Statistics Seminars
Papers & articles
Business & Trade Association Conferences
Statistics Liaison Groups
High Level Group on Burden Reduction
Blockages to progress
Poor statistical infrastructure:
- Unique Business Identifiers
- Postal/Spatial codes
- Harmonised Accounting taxonomy
- Interdepartmental Business Register
Difficulty accessing to “new” data:
- Data Protection issues (legal interpretation)
- Coordinated v’s Unilateral approach
Risks
Dependence on administrative data holders
Data Protection legislation
Ability to control staff profile
No change in perception
Financial crisis
Other official or private sector surveys/publications cease
Lessons (so far...)
Statistical Infrastructure needed
Strategic, coordinated approach necessary- Nationally- Internationally
Limit to real burden reduction
Transfer of burden (from enterprises to NSIs)
Results validated (but surprising – contrary to perception)
Unintended consequences - estimating burden is risky
Statistics have a high irritation factor
Communication crucial
Contact details
Steve MacFeelyDirector of Business Statistics & InnovationCentral Statistics OfficeSkehard RoadCorkIreland
Tel (direct): 00-353-21-453 5303Mobile: 00-353-87-2290 273
John HayesStatistician – Administrative Data
Central Statistics OfficeSkehard RoadCorkIreland
Tel (direct): 00-353-453 5082
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