Information item: Two Expert Groups on households’ economic resources

1. Information item: Two Expert Groups on households’ economic resources Working Party on National Accounts 2 December 2010 Maryse FESSEAU (OECD)

2. Background • The « Stiglitz-Sen-Fitoussi » report – October 2009 • Report to the G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank governors (Recommendation 16 – 2009) • OECD Statistics committee (CSTAT) (June 2010) • Activity 7.2.b « integrated framework on income, expenditures and wealth » • Activity 7.2.c « Integrating inequalities in the SNA » • Eurostat–Insee sponsorship (July 2010)

3. Letter from OECD Chief Statistician to CSTAT Delegates (November 08, 2010) • Proposes the establishment of two expert groups • EG « on micro statistics on household income, consumption and wealth » • EG « to measure disparities in a national accounts framework » • Both EGs: • Will contribute to OECD research on households’ economic resources, living conditions and sustainability • Will operate until end-2012

4. Expert Group « on micro statistics » • GOALS: • Define standards for the measurement and collection of micro-statistics on household wealth • Propose a framework for integrating micro data on income, consumption and wealth (conceptual framework and practical challenges) • OUTCOMES: • Reports with conceptual proposals and practical guidance to improve future household surveys • MEMBERS: • Experts of household micro data

5. Expert Group « disparities in NA » • GOALS: • Use micro data to break down the household NA (income, consumption and wealth) by group • OUTCOMES: • Report describing existing macro data on household across OECD countries and comparing micro and macro aggregates • Report presenting a breakdown of SNA household aggregates for a number of countries in a recent year, based on a common methodology (Short term – using current micro and macro data) • MEMBERS: • Mix of experts on household micro and macro data • OECD and Eurostat will support and participate in the EG

6. Expert Group « disparities in NA » • STEPS and TIMELINES: • Step 1 (January 2011 – Summer 2011): • Take stock of available information on household statistics (availability, methods of compilation) • Comparisons of micro and macro sources • Proposals for medium/long term improvements in the compilation of NA data through a better use of surveys data (and vice versa) • Questionnaire on macro data: availability, compilation, figures • Detailed calculations for each country by members of the EG • Step 2 (September 2011 – Summer 2012): • Breakdown of the household National Accounts data by socio-economic group • Proposals for computing disparities indicators consistent with NA aggregates • Identifying and defining the scope and coverage of indicators • Test the feasibility of producing the identified set of indicators • Agree and implement an internationally applicable methodology • Consider whether it would be feasible to assess disparities on a regular basis

7. Expert Group « disparities in NA » • A methodological and practical Expert Group to consider micro and macro data • Implications: • For country members: • Micro and Macro experts in the EG or at least inside NSO • Access to detailed micro and macro data on households to make calculations and tests • For OECD and Eurostat: coordination and calculation • Link with the Expert Group on micro statistics • Issue (beyond technical challenges): reach agreement across micro and macro experts on the quality and future improvements for each source

8. Two Expert Groups on households • Reminder: names and coordinates of participating experts should be provided by 17 December 2010 • Information meeting on the EG to measure disparities in a NA framework: 3 December, 2 to 4 pm. Room MB1122