Developing a Complete System of National Accounts: Armenian Experience

1. ՀՀ ԱԶԳԱՅԻՆ ՎԻՃԱԿԱԳՐԱԿԱՆ ԾԱՌԱՅՈՒԹՅՈՒՆ NATIONAL STATISTICAL SERVICE OF RA ARMENIAN EXPERIENCE OF THE DEVELOPING OF COMPLETE SYSTEM OF NATIONAL ACCOUNTS. Quality of basic data - statistical problems Stepan MNATSAKANYAN Artashes SHABOYAN Joint Eurostat-UNSD Conference on National Accounts in the context of development cooperation, Luxembourg, 6 to 8 May 2008

2. INSTITUTIONAL AND ORGANISATIONAL ISSUES • NSS is independent from state bodies in its activities. • The supreme body of NSS is the SCS. • The obligation to provide data to NSS is stated in the Law ON STATE STATISTICS (2000). • TWO STAGE PLANNING: • Since 2001 National Assembly of RA adopts the Law ON THREE YEAR STATISTICAL PROGRAM, where main strategic directions of statistical system in Armenia are taken place. • The ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM adopted by SCS is based on this law and contains full set of indicators to be produced. • The strategic planning helps to avoid problems with data providers, users as well as state bodies responsible for financing statistical activities undertaken.

3. DEVELOPING SNA IN ARMENIA • The Process of changing System of Material Product to SNA-93 started in 1993 on the basis of 1990 annual data • SERIES BY SNA-93 METHODOLOGY EXIST: • from 1990 for ANNUAL accounts • from 1992 for QUARTERLY accounts • ANNUAL NATIONAL ACCOUNTS BY: • - SEQUENCE OF ACCOUNTS (UP TO FINANCIAL • ACCOUNT ) • - INSTITUTIONAL SECTORS • - INDUSTRIES • - SUBSECTORIAL BREAKDOWN • (public, national private, under foreign control)

4. CURRENT STATUS ANNUAL and QUATRERLY GDP is calculated and published: a. METHODS - production, - expenditure, - income (only for annual data) b. PRICES - current prices, - comparable prices of the previous year, - base year average prices including seasonal adjustments c. CLASSIFICATION OF TYPES OF ACTIVITIES - ОКОНХ (rus) - 1990-2005 data, - NACE rev 1.1 – since 2005. GDP by production - A3, A6 & A17 breakdown used in ESA-95. Metadata are updated quarterly and are available on IMF SDDS website

5. TOOLS FOR DATA COLLECTING

6. MAIN DATA SOURCES FOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS

7. MAIN DATA SOURCES FOR NATIONAL ACCOUNTS (2) • DIRECT REPORTS TO NSS • From BUSINESS STATISTICS • Selected units ARE OBLIGED to report (accuracy and timeliness) • Structuring is done by TYPES of ACTIVITIES (NACE 1.1) • From HOUSEHOLDS • NO OBLIGATION (most refuses from high income households) • THROUGH ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS • By ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM • Using ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL QUESTIONNAIRES • DATA FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES ON THE SAME UNIT ARE CROSS CHECKED

8. ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS

9. BUSINESS REGISTER

10. QUALITY CONTROL OF DATA • MONITORING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF ANNUAL STATISTICAL PROGRAM • INTERNAL PROCEDURES FOR ENSURING QUALITY: • Ensuring the PROPER METHODOLOGY of indicators—SCS and Statistical Methodology and Classifications Division; • BUSINESS STATISTICS — Macroeconomic Indicators and National Accounts Division and Senior Adviser to the President of NSS; • MACROECONOMIC INDICATORS —Senior Adviser to the President of NSS; • PUBLICATIONS and DISSEMINATION —Vice President and Statistical Publications and Marketing Division.

11. ISSUES WITH DATA SOURCES • DIFFICUILTIES OF UPDATING BUSINESS REGISTER • rapid growth of NUMBER of ECONOMIC ENTITIES • large changes in ECONOMIC INDICATORS of ENTITIES • SAMPLING used for direct data collection • EXISTENCE OF LARGE INFORMAL ACTIVITIES • Since 1994 GDP includes estimations on NON-OBSERVED ECONOMY. • Sources for NOE estimation: employment data, household surveys, other special surveys and indirect methods. • ISSUES OF RESPONSIBILITY OF DATA PROVIDERS • DEVELOPING OF COMPLETE SYSTEM OF ADMINISTRATIVE STATISTICAL REGISTERS