Data Access: The World Bank Experience 1/ , and Economic Incentives for Enhancing Data Access in the Arab Region 2/ Doha

1. Data Access: The World Bank Experience1/, and Economic Incentives for Enhancing Data Access in the Arab Region2/ Doha, Qatar - December 7, 2010 Ingrid IvinsStatistician, Statistical Development and Partnership TeamRegional Coordinator for MNA Statistical Capacity Projects<iivins1@worldbank.org> 1/ First part of presentation drawn from more detailed World Bank ppt, available upon request. 2/ Second part of presentation based on forthcoming background note by Angel-Urdinola, Ivins, and Hilger, 2011.

2. Table of Contents • The World Bank Experience: Open Data, Open Knowledge, and Open Solutions • A Bit of History • Current Features of Open Data • Application to MNACountries – Potential Gains and Risks from Providing Access to Microdata • Statistical Capacity • Data Access Issues • Example of Regional Coordination • Options for Better Data Access

3. The World Bank Experience; a) A Bit of History • 2008: Development of World Bank API for developers to build applications using an assortment of World Bank data • 2009: Next step was partnership with Google and launch of Bank’s “DataFinder” • 04/10: Phase 1 of Open Data Initiative • 10/10: Official launch of Open Data Initiative • 2011 onwards: Unlimited possibilities!

4. 1. The World Bank Experience; a) A Bit of History • Official Open Data Press Release took place on October 5, 2010 • Part of larger release of World Bank documents, tools, and technology applications, and commitment to “Open Development” “We are working to make data analysis and modeling tools more user-friendly, so that researchers, civil society, and local communities can come up with their own findings – and double-check ours.” - World Bank President Robert Zoellick

5. The World Bank Experience; a) A Bit of History • Open Data Initiative - how to reach the potential users? • The press release, and many of the data and related tools are available in several languages.

6. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Open Data • New website in English, French, Spanish, Arabic, with over 2,000 WDI/GDF indicators freely available • Data Catalog to provide access to all World Bank datasets • Best practice Terms of Use that allows commercial use and re-use • Multiple access options with full downloads, Application Programming Interface (API) for developers, Data Tools, etc

7. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features http://data.worldbank.org

8. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Open Data By Country • View profiles for over 200 economies By Topic • See key indicators for a variety of topics Indicators • View and download data for over 2,000 indicators in four languages WorlddataBank <http://data.worldbank.org> • “Slice and dice” the data Data Catalog • Lists all of the open data sources of the World Bank

9. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Open Tools

10. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Open Tools • DataFinder 2.0: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad

11. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Chart an indicator

12. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features “Mash-ups” – Mapping Indicators + Geocoding Projects

13. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Data Visualizer – see changes of data over time

14. The World Bank Experience; b) Current Features Keep site dynamic – innovative competitions

15. Applications to MNA Countries; a) Statistical Capacity WB: Statistical Capacity Index Available for Developing Countries

16. Applications to MNA Countries; a) Statistical Capacity WB: Statistical Capacity Index 2009, Middle Income Countries

17. Applications to MNA Countries; a) Statistical Capacity IMF: Special & General Data Dissemination Standards

18. Applications to MNA Countries; b) Data Access - Issues Data Access versus Confidentiality

19. Applications to MNA Countries; b) Data Access - Issues Striking a Balance Between Access, Confidentiality & Data Quality • Methodologies are available to minimize risks, such as: • Setting threshold risk (i.e. to individual record, or to entire file). • Removal of: Unique/rare sample data, estimating individual risk, etc to calculate the expected number of re-identifications and the re-identification rate to maximum threshold (except for Business Surveys). • Global re-coding to reduce identification effect. • Goal is a balance between the conflicting objectives of reducing the disclosure risk, and minimizing information loss.

20. Applications to MNA Countries; b) Data Access - Size of the Economy MNA Region has level of publications below level of economic development Graph Source: “U.S. and Them: The Geography of Academic Research”, World Bank Policy Research Working Paper 5152, December 2009.

21. Applications to MNA Countries; b) Data Access – Policy Making Higher Statistical Capacity May Be Associated with Better Governance Effectiveness & Rule of Law Governance Effectiveness Rule of Law Data Sources: WB Statistical Capacity Bulletin Board, and WB Governance Indicators.

22. Applications to MNA Countries; b) Data Access - Foreign Direct Investment Higher level of data availability may have link with FDI Data Sources: WB Statistical Capacity Bulletin Board, and World Development Indicators.

23. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination Regional Coordination as a Means to Enhancing Data Access The MECOVI Program in Latin America • Household survey data access in Latin America was very limited in the early 1990s. • High data production but little data access or analysis. • Little regional comparability of data. • Little interaction between statistical offices in the region.

24. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination Regional Coordination as a Means to Enhancing Data Access The MECOVI Program in Latin America • The Program lasted 8 years (1996-2003). • Partnership between the World Bank, The Inter-American Development Bank, and ECLAC. • The program started in Paraguay but expanded quickly to Argentina, Bolivia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Paraguay, Peru, Ecuador, Honduras, and the Dominican Republic.

25. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination Regional Coordination as a Means to Enhancing Data Access MECOVIProgram Achievements • Standardization of questionnaires in the region • Several studies and publications • Development of regional GPS • Modernization/standardization of software in the region (and equipment) • Availability of micro data to the public (public institutions, academia, NGOs, researchers) • Introduction of “panel” surveys • Credibility of statistical offices grew • No confidentiality issues / no negative experiences reported

26. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination SEDLAC – Socioeconomic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean SEDLAC: A positive extension of the MECOVI program. • A regional database of socio-economic statistics computed from household surveys accessible from the Web (SEDLAC). • A database of labor statistics computed from labor surveys (LABLAC). • Reports, briefs, maps and other material describing the main patterns and trends in poverty, inequality, and other indicators in the region. • Research on poverty and other social and labor issues in Latin America and the Caribbean.

27. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination SEDLAC – Socioeconomic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean

28. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination SEDLAC – Socioeconomic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean

29. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination SEDLAC – Socioeconomic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean

30. Applications to MNA Countries; c) Example of Regional Coordination SEDLAC – Socioeconomic Database for Latin America and the Caribbean

31. Applications to MNA Countries; d) Options for Better Data Access Several Options for Better Data Access • Arab Region Countries • Define a regional (or sub-regional) procedure for data access, including microdata [public and private researchers] (???) • Share microdata with reliable partners for assessment of National Public / Economic Policies and Plans (???) • Could Arab Region Countries introduce a regional / sub-regional effort, such as the MECOVI experience (???)

32. Thank You For Your Attention Website links Open Data Initiative http://data.worldbank.org IMF Data Standards Website http://dsbb.imf.org Bulletin Board for Statistical Capacity Building http://bbsc.worldbank.org MECOVI Program http://go.worldbank.org/ZIFHV0LK00 SEDLACProgram http://sedlac.econo.unlp.edu.ar/eng