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First Experiences With Local Business Climate Surveys. Strategies and Practices Toward a More Enabling Business and Investment Climate, May 22-25 2006, Johannesburg. Steps for Business Climate Surveys. This presentation provides Dos and Don´ts on: Local BCS: Thumbs up or down? Survey Design
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First Experiences WithLocal Business Climate Surveys Strategies and Practices Toward a More Enabling Business and Investment Climate, May 22-25 2006, Johannesburg
Steps for Business Climate Surveys This presentation provides Dos and Don´ts on: • Local BCS: Thumbs up or down? • Survey Design • Sampling • Data Collection • Data Analysis • Publication of Results
Thumbs Down Long intervals between BCS initially mean less prediction! How about informal economy: Inclusion or exclusion? What is the lowest level for a breakdown? How to prevent another „Asian disaster“? Thumbs Up Even a reduced BCS is a useful tool for politics and administration! Comparison between locales encourages competition! BCS serve as a part of private sector market research! After the „Asian disaster“, BCS were professionalized! Local BCS: Thumbs up or down?
Survey Design • Harmonize with existing surveys! • Some surveys might already exist. Check with national statistics, international institutions, consultant companies, NGOs, donors etc. • Always keep your target group in mind! • Adapt key survey specifics to your sample: length of survey, operationalizations, wording, national law etc.
Sampling • Choose your sample carefully! • Reconsider including the informal sector! • There are various sources for registered firms. National Statistics, Ministry of Economics, Ministry of Finance, NGOs, Donors etc. • Use panel data to control for the influence of omitted variables. • Think about group-specific analyses! • 30 units should be your minimum per sub-group. Adjust your sample size accordingly.
Data Collection • Use standardized personal interviews! • Sometimes SME managers lack experience and literacy. They may benefit from personal assistance. • Train interviewers thoroughly to ensure consistent completion of your questionnaires. • Personnel must be (perceived as) impartial! • Attributed credibility and impartiality are crucial. Consider existing preconceptions during staffing.
Data Analysis • Invest in your Data Base Management! • The survey is longitudinal. Construct your data base accordingly and include professional documentation. • Use up to date methodology! • Be aware of recent multilevel techniques, allowing testing for higher order effects (e.g. aggregated provincial, national or international effects). • Consider analysis techniques for structural equations, allowing you to test for causal relationships in your data.
Publication of Results • Organize an official presentation! • Invest in a professional presentation including developing your own brand. This helps in future surveys. • Do not forget about your sample! • Maintaining your sample is crucial (especially for panels). Disseminate your results carefully and nurse your partners. • Form alliances! • Some local partners might be interested in participating, thereby ensuring sustainability or enlarging the scope.
Our Solution: A local BCS is viable! • Breakdown to provincial level without the informal sector • Integration into an existing survey in cooperation with our private counterpart • Donor harmonization in step with the Paris declaration • Realization of an unbalanced panel design • Collaboration with a research institute for scientific advice