1. Globalisation processes in the field of statistics Discussion DGINS, Budapest, 2007 Irena Križman Director-General of the Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia

2. Contents Short presentation of papers, followed by discussion points Challenges (summary)

3. E. Giovannini: Is globalisation a threat for official statistics? Impact on the “statistical function” Value added of statistics Technologies challenge the trust and communication strategies Usefulness and relevance of statistics for all citizens Innovative approach: from information providers to knowledge brokers

4. E. Giovannini: Is globalisation a threat for official statistics? Challenges and risks How to increase the value added? Globalisation affects the size of the audience The official data actually used – capacity of creating new knowledge From information providers to knowledge builders National vs. global Unfair competition with other sources Trust in “official” Lack of statistics on use of and trust in official statistics Lack of analytical work Exchange of micro data Less conservative and more risk taking

5. Issues and questions Do NSIs fully exploit these new opportunities? Do we have the strategies in place? Are we prepared to serve the global audience and make the products accessible to and accessed by the global audience? How important is the statistical literacy? Are we too conservative and why?

6. L. Benkovičová: Use of Administrative Data Sources in the Globalisation Process in Statistics Searching for and use of new processes and sources in gathering the data Cross cutting policy issues Permanent lack of financial and human resources Systematic use of public registers and administrative sources at micro data level Integrative approach to data sources Co-operation with administrators

7. Issues and questions Registers at EU level as precondition for EU samples, do we need them ? Euro Groups Register and the problems expected Step by step approach The importance of micro data in building the complex picture of global phenomena Quality and confidentiality

8. K. Dunnell at al.: Globalisation: Statistical challenges and policy evidence needs The key measurement challenges in different fields of statistics to support the UK policy needs Globalisation as a complex phenomena Measurement challenges: specialisation in supply chain, cross country consistency in treatment of business units, intangible transactions, greater financial integration, inequality and disaggregated statistics Trust and confidence in official data Increased and more focused international co- operation is needed

9. Issues and questions What are the recent and future globalisation effects to report on over the next years? Who are the main winners and losers? What policies work to support those faring worse? How will demand for and delivery of public services be affected by globalisation?

10. S. Keuning: Meeting the challenges of globalisation requires an enhanced cooperation between the ESS and the ESCB Increasing need for better financial statistics (financial globalisation) Euro Groups Register Wider exchange of micro-data for statistical purposes only is proposed Standardisation of concepts, definitions and classifications Good practice: statistical co-ordination and co-operation in the EU Problems: transfer prices, distortions in the national external trade statistics

11. Issues and questions Will all legal impediments regarding micro data exchange be removed with the new basic legal framework ? Should legislation on EU System of Central Banks be also revised? To collect the data in one country only is cheaper, but what if the problem of quality appears? (Intrastat- one flow case) The division of work and responsibilities between the ESCB and Eurostat

12. Eurostat: The impact of globalisation in statistical processes: opportunities for the ESS “ Informational globalisation”- easy and widespread access to information, knowledge, education Growth of cross - border data flows (global standards, global users, indicators of globalisation) European integration and globalisation of Europe Growing concerns about the cost and response burden National vs. supranational interests

13. Issues and questions How the role of Eurostat as a “global actor” could be strengthened? What are the reasons for poor application of methodological and technical standards? Do we have an assessment on that?

14. Challenges (summary) Concept of global user Integrative approach to: - standards (methods, IT,organisation) - processes, division of work - public and private data sources - sectors’ statistics Development of the EU registers Exchange of micro data More analytical work Reporting the quality to “global user” Proactive or conservative???

15. Thank you very much for your attention