The Swedish System of Official Statistics Soft coordination Broad-based cooperation and A strong infrastructure

Contents Background The steering of official statistics The Council’s working methods Factors of success Outcome and conclusions

Background Statistics reform in 1994 Parts of the responsibility for official statistics were transferred from Statistics Sweden to 24 other authorities Government evaluation in 1998 “Coordination and overall view of the statistical system had worsened" Recommendation that a council be established for official statistics in Sweden

What is included in the system? Statistics and the publishing of statistics Microdata Production systems Laws and other regulations Common tools and methods Authorities responsible for official statistics The Council for Official Statistics Statistics Sweden as responsible for the coordination of official statistics

The Official Statistics Act Official statistics shall be available for public information, investigative activities and research be objective and made available to the public be accompanied by the phrase ”Official Statistics of Sweden” or a special symbol.

The Council for Official Statistics is an advisory body and shall deal with matters of principle concerning the availability, quality and usefulness of the official statistics as well as facilitating the response process for data providers shall produce an annual report on the official statistics which is published on Statistics Sweden’s website compile an annual publishing plan maintain a register of the statistical authorities and their products shall work to improve cooperation between the statistical authorities

The Council for Official Statistics The Director General of Statistics Sweden chairs the Council The members of the Council are Director-generals appointed by the Director General of Statistics Sweden after consultation with the authorities responsible for official statistics The members are appointed for three years Two meetings are held every year

The sphere of activities The Council has appointed work groups for Decisions on contents and scope of official statistics Issues on methods and quality Electronic publishing Provision of data from enterprises and municipalities Giving access to data The costs of official statistics Regional official statistics

The sphere of activities The Council’s secretariat Supports the Council and work groups Supports authorities responsible for official statistics Prepares an annual report on official statistics Prepares an annual publishing plan Maintains a register of the statistical authorities and their products in the ”Product Database” Encourages cooperation between statistical authorities and the development and management of a statistical network

Soft coordination and broad- based cooperation Work groups Seminars Courses The annual conference Study visits

Factors of success Strong support by the top management at Statistics Sweden The top management at other authorities responsible for official statistics has become aware of the matter of official statistics Increased exchange of experience among the authorities The secretariat has close cooperation with the methodological and dissemination departments at Statistics Sweden Close cooperation with representatives for the respondents A strong infrastructure The follow-up of official statistics

Outcome A joint view on official statistics among the authorities Those working with statistics at different authorities get more support in their work It is clear what is included in official statistics and how to carry out changes Other authorities have a ”neutral” channel to Statistics Sweden Increased awareness about availability, quality, response burden and the importance of disaggregating statistics by sex The overall view and the availability of the statistics has improved

Conclusions Openness, keeness and involvement result in a fruitful cooperation In the long run cooperation is more powerful than controlling

If Questions……….. Contact: ROSsekretariatet @scb.se See also the AnnualReport on Official Statistics of Sweden at the website of Statistics Sweden