15 th Statistical Days 2005 Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

1. 15th Statistical Days 2005Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005 IMPROVEMENTS IN DISSEMINATION METHODS AND IN STATISTICAL LITERACY – A KEY TO QUALITY USE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS Ranko R. Nedeljkovic, Dragana Filippi Statistical Office of Serbia and Montenegro ranko@szs.sv.gov.yu Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

2. IMPROVEMENTS IN DISSEMINATION METHODS AND IN STATISTICAL LITERACY – A KEY TO QUALITY USE OF OFFICIAL STATISTICS • Official Statistics in Pre-Transition Era • Changes in Official Statistics during Transition • Use of Official Statistics • Dissemination Methods • Statistical Literacy Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

3. Official Statistics in Pre-Transition Era • Compulsory Fulfillment of all Requests • Full Coverage System • Volume-based rather than Value-based • MPS instead of SNA • Dissemination – Paper Publications • Considered Government Service – for Government users mainly Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

4. Official Statistics in Pre-Transition Era • Statistical output used less as an analysis and decision making tool, more as a society picture and a proof that plans were achieved • Government administration considered to be the only important user, all other users treated as less important • In essence – not user oriented. Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

5. Changes in Official Statistics during Transition • Orientation towards Market Economy Society • Better Coverage of Private Sector • Less Burden on Respondents • New Methodologies, Standards,… • Service Sector Coverage • Government Finance Statistics • Globalization • Official Statistics reflects the level of democratization in society Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

6. Changes in Official Statistics during Transition • Data Collection • Samples instead of full coverage • Wide use of Administrative Registers • Wider use of Internet, E-mail • Paper questionnaires – still in major use • Statistical Production • New harmonized methodologies: EU, UN, … • Improved ICT possibilities Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

7. Use of Official Statistics in Transition Era • Dissemination Means • Printed publications, chargeable • Electronic publications, chargeable • Publications, e-publications, free of charge • Use of Statistical Data • Political Decision Making • Business Decision Making • Economic and Social Analyses Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

8. Competition to official statistics • Private institutes, agencies • Government bodies and agencies, too • Often quicker, better marketed, aggressive How to compete? • Produce quality statistics • More aggressively promote official statistics, and disseminate it as well Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

9. Improvements in Dissemination Methods • User-oriented, user oriented,... • Electronic free, electronic free... • Statistical data warehouses, friendly access • Data-shop service, customer-made service • Network of regional statistical centres, libraries • Co-operation with third parties on special issues • Cooperate more with media, particularly TV • Cooperate much more with education system Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

10. Improvements in Dissemination Methods • Users’ needs: • Timeliness of updates and releases • All other quality elements... • Access to user-friendly metadata • User satisfaction forums • User satisfaction surveys • Discussion forums, organized by: NSI, Chamber of Commerce, Statistical Council, other official producers, ... Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

11. Improvements in Statistical Literacy • Several types of users (and possible users): sophisticated users, general (educated) public, university students, schoolchildren,.. • Lack of university programs covering topics relevant in official statistics • Lack of statistical themes in elementary and secondary schools curricula Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

12. How to Improve Statistical Literacy? • Start early: involve teachers, make suitable publications, popularize statistics, make it “a kids’ game” • In secondary schools make statistics, as a part of mathematics courses, an interesting material, with simple but real datasets, graphs, tables, … • Negotiate with other subject teachers to include statistics in their areas as an input to be analyzed Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

13. How to Improve Statistical Literacy? • University programs of statistics do not cover needs of official statisticians • Programs at mathematics and informatics departments should put more emphasis on sampling, indexing, time series analysis, forecasting, combined with reality limitations • Programs at economics, business, management social departments should be more rigorous in mathematical sense Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

14. How to Improve Statistical Literacy? • And, generally, far more statistical methods and techniques should be a part of other courses in various university curricula: engineering, medical sciences, social sciences, natural sciences, … • But, lecturers should know and understand statistics first … • Good university program for official statistics yet to be developed Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

15. How to Improve Statistical Literacy? • Aggressive campaign to obtain better public visibility of official statistics: • TV and radio • Internet • newspapers, … • Popular publications: • S&M in Graphs (2005) • Slovenia in Figures (2005), … Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005

16. Quality Use of Official Statistics • Improve Dissemination Methods • Improve Statistical Literacy • Promote Statistical Analyses • Promote Analysis-based Decision Making • Improve Production Methods based on Needs and Requests from Users Community • Widely Apply Quality Principles in Statistical Production Statistical Days 2005, Radenci, Slovenia, 7-9 November 2005