Overview of European Microdata from Official Statistics

1. Overview of European Microdata from Official Statistics Roxane Silberman CNRS/Réseau Quetelet and DwB Principal Investigator 4th DwB Training Course Working with data from Official Statistics particularly the Labor Force Surveys Ljubljana, September 17-19, 2014

2. Aim of this presentation 4 objectives for this introduction Provide a comprehensive overview of what is available for research both at European and at national level regarding official microdata which are still underused • Provide an overview of European microdata • An increasing rich resources as the number of official microdata provided at European level is increasing • Provide a general understanding of their construction • Eurostat microdata completely based on national microdata • Using the European microdata requires understanding these links as they raise important methodological issues • Provide a broad overview of official microdata available at national level • Though increasing links between national and European level • Related microdata available at national level may be more detailed, other variables, and sometimes on a longer period (ex. LFS) • Other microdata available at national levels • How to locate and access these microdata and new tools DwB will offer

3. Outline • National and European official microdata: terminology and historical backgrounds • Overview of official microdata in Europe • Integrated European microdata at Eurostat • Other European official microdata • National official microdata collected and harmonized in other European databases • Other national microdata • How to locate and access official microdata within Europe? • General principles • DwB support and new tools

4. I. National and European official microdataTerminology and historical backgrounds Official microdata ? A vast perimeter, moving and covering different types of microdata Historical backgrounds for European microdata Differences in national systems for official microdata Consequences for working with data

5. Official microdata ?A vast perimeter … • Different words (official, government, national etc..) • In any cases, statistics provided by government bodies • A larger perimeter than NSIs and Eurostat • Microdata provided by : • National level • National Statistical Institute • National Statistical Administrations (more or less coordinated by the NSI) • Central banks • Government agencies particularly those in charge of Social security, health, pensions … • Local authorities increasingly Number of government bodies producing and providing data vary according to the organization of the each statistical system and degree of centralization • European level • Eurostat • European Central Bank • European Commission and agencies

6. … moving • Perimeter may change according to the decision of governments/NSIs • Ex.1. France: Cereq microdata (ex Transition from school to work) went out of the official perimeter • Ex.2. Household finance and consumption surveys (HFCS) move to central banks coordinated by the BCE • Mixed status for some government agencies (social security, unemployment …) • New kind of data • Data certified by NSIs • Big data such as data from mobile phones may be used by NSIs and European bodies • Under different legal framework (surveys, administrative data, business data, fiscal data, health data, financial data, big data …) with consequences for access • Perimeter does not necessarily cover similar data in the different countries depending on the role of other producers (universities …) and historical changes (Eastern countries recently joining the EU)

7. … and covering different types of microdata • Censuses and/or registers (including longitudinal samples from censuses) • Surveys (including some panels) • Individual and households surveys • Business surveys • Administrative data (frequently longitudinal databases) • Individuals • Business • Combined datasets • Administrative datasets from different sources • More common in countries based on registers • Now increasingly the case in all countries (yet requiring a common identifier) • Surveys also using administrative data more and more common (particularly for longitudinal data)

8. Historical background for European microdata • Increasing harmonization process at international level since WW2 led by international organisations (UN, OECD…) mostly by encouragement and persuasion • European Union framework specific as there is a political and legal framework • European Statistical System development started with the CECA during the 50ies • Progressively developed during 30 years within a somewhat unclear framework (Commission also relying on other sources) • New start and developments since the 90ies towards more autonomy and integration • A legal framework establishing the European Statistical System in 2009 (Regulation N° 223/2009) • Rather recently • As a partnership between the Commission statistical authority (Eurostat), the NSIs and other national statistical authorities, with cooperation with the ECB • In compliance with the principle of subsidiarity • Main focus on indicators, less on microdata for research analysis • Subsidiarity principle at the core of the ESS • Harmonization and integration process growing: 80% of the national data linked to the European requests

9. … relying on national official statistical systems built in different ways • National statistical systems pre-existed to the ESS • Built in quite different ways through history from diverse sources and bodies, piece by piece, • Toward an increasing coordination role of the NSI • Yet keeping traces from the construction even in centralized statistical system where some bodies still remain apart • Central banks in general apart (also at European level) • Important differences • Surveys and registers countries • Centralized vs decentralized • Level of coordination differ • Political systems • Regional autonomy (Spain, UK and Scotland) • Federal system (Germany and the landers) • France and overseas departments • National and local authorities gaining importance • Recent political changes (Eastern countries) • Resulting in differences also in type, number and variety of datasets and access conditions

10. Some consequences for working with data • Rich and still underused resources • However a complex landscape • Information and access points highly fragmented both at national and at European level • Different legal frameworks for access both at national and European level • European microdata strongly relying on this complex landscape requiring agreements and harmonisation • National data remain an important resource, particularly for administrative data • However also raising issues for transnational access • The harmonisation process may impact the series • Issues for European research : information, access, good metadata, language issues

11. II. European and national microdata Three subsets from a European perspective European integrated microdata National microdata harmonized at European level Other national microdatafor comparative research

12. European integrated microdata Produced and provided at national level and integrated and provided at European level by European government bodies Reminder: national part may differ at national level and at European level A part are pre-existing surveys integrating harmonization requirements • Eurostat • European Central Bank • European Commission and other European government bodies • Others under EU regulations or recommendations of Eurostat

13. European Integrated microdata Eurostat microdata A growing number of datasets • European Union LabourForce Survey (LFS) • European Community Household Panel (ECHP) • Statistics on Income and Living Conditions (SILC) • Adult Education Survey (AES) • Community Innovation Survey (CIS) • Structure of Earnings Survey (SES) • European Road Freight Transport Survey (ERFT) • European Health Interview Survey (EHIS) • Continuous Vocational Training Survey (CVTS) • Community Statistics on Information Society (CSIS)

14. However … • Date of inclusion for countries differ • National microdata may offer a wider historical perspective in some cases • Implementation in national instruments differ: different surveys, variables from administrative data • Good metadata important (ex. questionnaires) • More questions in several cases at national level • Also more detailed microdata at national level in some countries for equivalent type of files

15. More questions in some national surveys: ex. SILC • France • The current French SRCV system took over from the former permanent survey of living conditions (EPCV) system (EPCV 1996-2004 and Permanent Living conditions Survey 1996-2004) in 2004 • It reprises some questions from the EPCV and includes some other questions not required at Eurostat level • Persons being in the panel for 9 years /vs 4 years required by Eurostat • Estonia • ESS is the Estonian branch of the EU-SILC. • Statistics Estonia, however, has added questions which are of interest to the domestic consumers of Estonia • In 2004, four modules were added commissioned by Estonian domestic consumers. The topics of the four modules concerned social contacts; family attitudes and political views; crime, violence and feeling of security; and ethnic integration. • In 2005, there were two modules were added at Estonian level, entitled “From school to work” and “Trade unions and collective agreements”.

16. More details for same type of files: ex. LFS • Recent progress in terminology regarding the different type of files • Public Use Files (PUF) • Scientific Use Files (SUF) or de facto anonymized files • Secure Use Files (ScF) or de-identified files • However differences remain in the practices • Ex. LFS: Variables such as age, family status, nationality less aggregated Scientific Use Files (de facto anonymized files) provided by INSEE in France than by Eurostat for the same type of files

17. And a wider historical perspective for detailed microdata at national level Ex: LFS

18. European integrated microdata European Central Bank microdata • Household Finance and Consumption Survey • Every 3 years • First deliverable in 2013 • No pre-existing national survey in some countries while older waves in others • France: • Every 6 years and oldest waves • Questionnaire 112 pages in France vs 65 pages for the European survey, yet some variables collected at European level not in the French survey • Adaptation of the survey was needed (break in the national serie) • Moved from the NSI to the Central Bank (with consequence for researcher access)

19. European integrated microdataOther European government microdata • The European Commission • The Eurobarometers since 1973 • The Business and Consumer Surveys (The Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs /DG ECFIN) • EUROFOUND • Surveys on working conditions

20. The Eurobarometers • Since 1973 • European opinion • Twice a year

21. DG ECFIN and the Business and Consumer Surveys • The European Commission, the Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs (DG ECFIN) manages a network of national institutes to conduct a harmonised EU programme of 6 business and consumer tendency surveys (quarterly or monthly from 1985, 1995 for services). • Industry • Services • Consumers • Retail trade • Building • Investment • and some others

22. EUROFOUND and the surveys on working conditions The European Foundation for the Improvement of Living and Working Conditions • An autonomous EU agency • Set up by the Council Regulation (EEC) No. 1365/75 of 26 May 1975 • Contributes to the planning and design of better living and working conditions`` 3 surveys combining companies and employees surveys The European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) : 1990, 1995, 2000, 2005, 2010 • Working conditions and the quality of work and employment The European Quality of Life Survey (EQLS) : 2003, 2007, 2010 • A broad range of indicators of quality of life, both objective and subjective The European Company Survey (ECS) : 2004, 2009, 2013 • Workplace practices based on the views of both managers and employee representatives • Datasets available for download at the ESDS (UKDA)

23. European Integrated microdataOther microdata under EU regulations • Information and Communication technologies surveys (TIC)` • Regulation n°808/2004 and updated regulation 1006/2009 linked with the European roadmap for the TIC • Household budget surveys (HBS) • Eurostat recommendations about methodology and harmonization • Censuses • Successive regulations (2008, 2009, 2010…) to achieve more comparability, output oriented

24. National official microdata post-harmonized at European level • By non government bodies • Collected and a posteriori harmonized by universities, archives • IECM (IPUMs international) • Censuses • May gather official microdata and academic datasets • LIS (Luxembourg Income Study) • Household Budget Survey • MTUS • Time Use Survey More detailed microdata may be accessed at national level

25. IECM/IPUMS and national dissemination of European censuses IECM + national dissemination IECM in progress + national dissemination Only national dissemination No information

26. However, more may be available at national level Ex: United Kingdom and France Several Public Use Files (PUF) available for dwelling, individuals, residential mobility at different geographical levels on INSEE website Several Scientific Use Files (SUF) more detailed available for the researchers via Archives Access to highly detailed microdataavailable via Secure access for approved research projects (ONS in UK, CASD/GENES in France)

27. LIS and MTUS • LIS and MTUS are examples of post harmonized microdata at European level from both government sources and non government (universities) sources • More detailed microdata at national level in several countries

28. LIS is a cross-national data center, located in Luxembourg. LIS is home to the Luxembourg Income Study Database (LIS) and the Luxembourg Wealth Study (LWS)

29. The Centre for Time Use Research collects Time Use Surveys

30. Other national rich resources from official statistics, non integrated nor post-harmonized at European level • Example for surveys on living conditions (other than those related to the SILC) May include some from academic institutions • Administrative microdata • Social security, pensions. The Impact of Social Security Contributions on Earnings: Evidence from administrative data in France, Germany, Netherlands an UK ( Antoine Bozio, Research proposal submitted in September 2011 to the Open Research Area (ORA) call) • Tax data • Administrative and surveys combined • Ex: Employers and employees A guide to Linked Employer-Employee Data Sources in the EU and Beyond (Tanvi Desai, London School of Economics, 2008)

31. Other national surveys on living conditions

32. Linked Employer-Employee Data sources, examples of national surveys

33. Bozio Antoine. The Impact of Social Security Contributions on Earnings: Evidence from administrative data in France, Germany, Netherlands an UK. Research proposal submitted in September 2011 to the Open Research Area (ORA) call

34. III. How to locate and access official microdata within Europe? MetadataTransnational access DwB support and new tools

35. Information, metadata dissemination at national level • Still highly fragmented • NSIs generally provide information, however metadata not always available on websites • Other government departments/bodies much more uneven • Some countries are opening a portal for official data (open data initiatives) with a larger perimeter yet mostly for aggregate data • In a few countries, data archives for social sciences provide information and metadata for official microdata

36. Metadata dissemination at national level for official microdata: NSIs and Archives

37. Information and metadata dissemination at European level • Each European body (Eurostat, ECB …) • The CESSDA (the European research data infrastructure for social sciences) catalogue vurrently includes only few metadata from official microdata

38. Access Terminology issues Type of files ranging from fully anonymized to highly detailed microdata • Campus files (CUF) • Public use files (PUF) • Scientific Use files (SUF) or de facto anonymizedmicrodata • Secure Use Files (ScF) or highly detailed, de-identified microdata Mode of Access via CDRom/FTP, on site, remote execution, remote access Progress towards a common terminology, however differences remain in terms and in practices

39. Access to Eurostat and other integrated European microdata Eurostat A new framework for access (see Michel Isnard presentation) • A 2 steps procedures (institution and researcher/ research project that may be time consuming, particularly for access to SUF • For ScF, currently only in Luxembourg • A Remote access network in project (DARA ESSnet) European Central Bank in progress LIS: remote execution for countries paying fees as members IPUMS/ IECM free and easy, yet currently highly anonymized

40. Access to national OS in Europe • Highly fragmented: Different types of accreditation procedures, application forms, criteria

41. However transnational access to national microdataincreasingly possible • Even for highly ScF • For the national components of Eurostat microdata may sometimes be easier or …. more difficult • For all kind of data, may be time consuming in case you want to access data provided by different/countries/ institutions • Combining national data from different countries for running a single analysis still problematic for ScF (highly detailed microdata) • Important for future comparative research based on administrative data difficult to integrate at European level

42. Transnational access to Public Use Files In some countries the number of PUF is (very) limited.

43. Transnational access to Scientific Use Files

44. Data archives providing access to SUF for OS

45. Transnational access to highly detailed microdata

46. Ex. Type of access at national level for the national components related to the SILC

47. III. DwB support Current activities and future perspectives CIMES and MISSY

48. DwB support • Current activities • Support for transnational access to ScF (highly detailed microdata) from 4 countries (Germany, France, UK, Netherlands) • DwB regular calls, support for accreditation, financial support for travel and fees for RDCs (last call: ultimate deadline is 15 Oct. 2014) • Metadata • MISSY Microdata Information System An online information system with metadata for all integrated European microdata from official statistics held by Eurostat and Integrated European Census Microdata (IECM) • CIMES Centralising and Integrating Metadata from European Statistics Currently 1,796 datasets from 22 European countries including information on access conditions • Future mid-term and long-term perspective A set of Services for Official Statistics ideally linked to the CESSDA Portal in cooperation with the European Statistical • That could offer a range of services: metadata, training, support for accreditation, a European Remote Access Network for access to confidential OS