1. Access to enterprise data at Statistics Finland: introducing the practices of the Research Laboratory Satu Nurmi OECD Conference: Assessing the feasibility of micro-data access Luxembourg 26-27 October 2006

2. 18.10.20042Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Background Increased demand for comprehensive micro-level databases for research purposes Rich linkable administrative register databases are goldmines for empirical economic analysis The challenge: protection of confidentiality vs. providing researchers with the relevant data cost-effectively Development of micro data

3. 18.10.20043Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Legislation Statistical data can only be released in unidentifiable form, with a few exceptions Data can be released for scientific research and statistical surveys only Sample data on individual persons can be released to outside researchers By contrast, protected data on enterprises can only be accessed at the premises of Statistics Finland

4. 18.10.20044Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Research Laboratory of enterprise data Offers academic researchers the possibility to use enterprise-level data in their research projects Operation started in 2001, around 20 projects/year Customers from universities and research institutes Basic setting up cost 883/project and a rent of 18/hour Data guidance and customised research services are central in the operation

5. 18.10.20045Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Access rules A user licence is required Statistics Finlands Ethics Committee considers exceptions Data limitations: encryption of unit identifiers removal of sensitive information Physical limitations: on-site access conditions of use

6. 18.10.20046Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Research Laboratorys main data sets ENTERPRISE LEVEL DATA Business Register and Group Register Financial Statements panel Business Aid Database R&D panel ICT panel Patent Register Innovation Surveys ESTABLISHMENT LEVEL DATA Business Register Industrial Statistics panel Employment Statistics panel (labour characteristics) Worker Flow panel Technology Survey Commodity Statistics LINKED EMPLOYER-EMPLOYEE DATA Finnish Longitudinal Employer-Employee Data (FLEED) & demo version

7. 18.10.20047Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Employment Statistics (Individual) Industrial Statistics (Establishment) aggregation ICT Survey Financial Statements Statistics R&D Survey Innovation Survey analysis Background information on individuals is aggregated to establishment level. Data from different sources are linked through encrypted establishment or enterprise identifiers. An example of linking data sets

8. 18.10.20048Statistics Finland/Satu Nurmi Future challenges Development of the databases and documentation Increased co-operation between research services in different statistical units Improved communication with the research community On-line access as an alternative mode of use: + Regional equality + User-friendliness + Data protection – High costs International co-operation