PARIS21 Task Force On Statistical Capacity IMF Statistics Department May 21, 2001

2 Premise of the presentation Measuring statistical capacity Equals Assessing data quality

3 Plan of the presentation Background Description of the framework Current and potential uses of the framework Concluding remarks

4 Background A framework: its uses dictate that it be: Comprehensive Balanced between experts’ rigor and generalists’ bird’s eye view Widely applicable: Across various stages of statistical development Across the major datasets Designed to give transparent results Arrived at by drawing on national statisticians’ best practices

5 Datas et (6- digit) “Lite” Generic (3-digit) Summary of Results Dataset Specific (5-digit) NA etc. BOP GFS etc. Framework suite of tools

6 Dimensions of data quality

7 Structure of the framework A cascading structure Five dimensions (plus prerequisites) of quality And for each dimension ; Elements that can be used in assessing quality And for each element ; Indicators that are more concrete and detailed; And for each indicator; Focal issues that are tailored to the dataset

8 Structure of the framework (cont’d) The cascading structure—an example For serviceability, one of the five dimensions: Four elements are identified as being useful in assessing that dimension: relevance, timeliness and periodicity, consistency, and revision policy and practice For consistency, three indicators are identified to provide detail and concreteness for that element: intertemporal, internal, and intersectoral consistency For internal consistency, the focal issues in [dataset] are…

9 Framework preview Purpose: serve as a diagnostic preview or for a nonstatistician’s assessment 13 specific (three-digit) indicators were identified (in the handout): Relatively nontechnical Relatively easy to get information Formatted (in the handout) as a worksheet

10 Framework summary Summary presentation of results Purpose: for nonstatisticians—such as policy advisors and potential investors—after a full assessment based on the DQAF For clarity and comparability (in handout): For each dataset, a one-page table At the two-digit level (21 elements) On a 4-point scale, from “practice observed” to “practice not observed” With an “n.A.” Column With a “comments” column

11 Uses of the framework To guide IMF staff In assessing data for IMF’s use in surveillance and operations; In preparing ROSCs; and In designing technical assistance To guide country efforts (including self- assessments) in strengthening statistical capacity To guide data users—to complement the SDDS and GDDS

12 Concluding remarks General reaction Welcome initiative Fills important gap Is careful and thoughtful Provides basis for coherent and practical way forward in a complex field