The Second International Workshop on Economic Census 6-9 July 2009, Seoul, Korea

1. United Nations Statistics Division Work Programme on Economic CensusVladimir Markhonko, Chief Trade Statistics Branch, UNSDYoulia Antonova, Senior Statistician, UNSD The Second International Workshop on Economic Census 6-9 July 2009, Seoul, Korea

2. Content of presentation • I. UNSD work programme on Economic Census • II. The First International Workshop on Economic Census - 26-29 July 2005, Beijing, China • III. 2006 UNSD Survey on Economic Census • IV. An overview of the participants responses to the UNSD Questionnaire on Economic Census

3. I. UNSD work programme on Economic Census • Part of a broader programme on strengthening countries’ capacity in compilation of basic economic statistics • 37th session of the UN Statistical Commission in 2006 • Endorsed the UNSD initiative to promote an integrated approach to compilation of economic statistics • Recommended that good practices should be identified, documented and made available to countries to assist in their practical work

4. II. First International Workshop on Economic Census • The workshop aimed to evaluate the potential of EC and concluded that EC is an important statistical activity in: • Providing countries with comprehensive and detailed information about the structure of their economy • Providing the information needed to establish/maintain a country’s survey frame and business register • Providing the necessary tool for collecting data and compiling national accounts • Obtaining the necessary details and coverage in areas of special interest • Establishing the statistical foundation for continuing economic analysis by policymakers and the business community

5. Main conclusions of the First International Workshop on EC (1) • Criteria for the success of an economic census • Careful preparation of the census in terms of securing legal, financial and administrative support • Well articulated and explicitly related to user needs purpose • Census results publicized in a timely manner • Promoting public awareness of the census results and their use

6. Main conclusions of the First International Workshop on EC (2) • Challenges • High-cost and fast-aging results in a rapidly changing economy • Might be more suitable for: • Developing economies making efforts to update their survey frame and/or to start up a business register • Developed economies, with a large number of big enterprises and a good system for using administrative records • Advised that further elaboration is required on: • Content of the economic census (list and definitions of economic and financial variables) • Terminology standardization • Effective approaches for using results of economic censuses and surveys

7. III. 2006 UNSD Survey on Economic Census • Collected information about countries’ general policies with regard to economic census and other approaches to compilation of basic economic statistics • Some results from the survey • 114 countries responded • Countries conducting EC worldwide - 34.2% • Of which developing countries – 49.2% • Countries having plans to conduct an EC in the future – 48.2% • Of which developing countries – 66.7%

8. Main findings of the 2006 UNSD Survey on Economic Census (1) • Economic census as an approach to compilation of basic economic statistics • Survey confirmed that the EC is still an important statistical activity • Practices regarding the organization of an economic census vary significantly among countries and show a lack of unified approach • Different scope • Different definitions • Different terminology • Tendency of improved timeliness of the conducted economic censuses

9. Main findings of the 2006 UNSD Survey on Economic Census (2) • Organizational details of economic census • Periodicity – Economic censuses conducted every five years prevail – 56.4% • Scope • Agriculture and Public Administration – excluded • Other individual activities excluded – vary by country • Coverage • 46.2% percent of countries apply a threshold in respect of units inclusion • Sample surveys and administrative data – the most common approaches for covering units below the threshold

10. IV. An overview of the participants responses to the UNSD Questionnaire on Economic Census • Questionnaire • Designed to provide an overview of the current practice of countries participating in the workshop in the organization and conduct of economic census • Detailed practices – in country presentations and reports • All 19 participating countries responded • Aggregated results • Based on responses of 17 countries • Russia planned his first census of medium and small enterprises for 2011 • Hong Kong moved away from the practice of conducting economic censuses

11. Planning and Organization (1) • Countries start preparations for each economic census well in advance • Legal basis • Adequate – in all but one country there are legal provisions governing the conduct of Economic Census • Statistical Law – the legal basis for three quarters of participating countries • Other forms of legislation – Census Act, Executive order, etc. • Coordination of Economic Census activities • Different forms of a coordination body for the organization of economic censuses established in 82% of countries - Working groups, technical and steering committees, etc.

12. Planning and Organization (2) • Periodicity • Economic censuses conducted every 5 years – current practice in a half of participating countries – 2006 results confirmed • Censuses conducted at infrequent intervals of time – mainly due to budget constraints, observed in a limited number of countries • Most recent round of censuses – 2006-2008 • Next round of censuses – 2011-2013

13. Scope and coverage (1) • Economic Census - defined as an economy-wide census in 76% of countries • Remaining 24% of countries conduct censuses for an individual sector or activity • Agricultural activities – excluded, subject to separate Agricultural censuses • Public administration units – not covered by 60% of countries • Other activities/units – vary by country

14. Scope and coverage (2) • Statistical unit • Establishment – 95% of countries • Establishment in combination with enterprise, or enterprise in combination with local unit • Lack of unified approach regarding use of threshold in economic censuses • If exists, it is defined in terms of employment • Units below the threshold covered by a variety of approaches – sample surveys, ADS, population census, etc.

15. Data collection and data processing • Data items • Economic census collects both operating characteristics and set of economic data about units • Labour cost and capital expenditures covered to a lesser extent • Major innovations • Improved questionnaire form – 65% of countries • Other improvements – electronic reporting, ADS, new data processing technology • Quality assurance frameworks • Development of QAFs – receives an increased attention • 82% of countries have implemented different forms of QAFs

16. Rising awareness and promoting responses • Census awareness campaigns – carried out in all but one country • By order of importance the campaigns include: • Publicity in the form of press releases • Organization of Economic census conferences with users and respondents • Design of Economic census website • Special large company programmes • Other – radio and TV spots, banners in the Internet, etc.

17. Dissemination • Forms of dissemination of census results • Printed publications – traditional form used by all countries • Electronic forms and web access – widely used • Metadata supplementing census results – disseminated by 65% of countries • Series of census data • Economy wide and regional aggregates – disseminated by majority of countries • Countries conducting censuses for an activity or a sector publish mainly industry series

18. The way forward • The workshop findings and conclusions will help UNSD to improve its work programme on economic census • Proceedings of the workshop will provide the basis for the preparation of the future UNSD Handbook on Challenges and Good Practices in Economic Census to assist countries in further strengthening their national programmes of economic statistics

19. Thank You