Statistical Terms Deconstucted A Humpty-Dumpty Story JR E. Hamilton Atlantic DLI Training March 14, 2002
When I use a word, Humpty Dumpty said in a rather scornful tone, it means just what I choose it to mean neither more nor less.
Objectives Review a few of the common statistical terms Discover some of the sources for definitions, concepts and methods Explore classifications in use by Statistics Canada
Important Note This is not Econ 1000 There will be no test Finding statistics and referring users to documentation is our goal
Statistical Information StatisticsData Aggregate Data Microdata Why Part of DLI Training? The lines are blurring…
The Basics Glossaries in print publications & hypertext links in e-pubs Finding and Using Statistics Statistical Methods web page
Sightings: LFS terms
What is it: estimate of employed and unemployed Why patrons want it: key indicator of Canadas economic health Key thing to know: Definitions are important (e.g. excludes those who have given up looking)
Sightings: LFS terms Availability: Found on STC web site, CANSIM, etc. annual, monthly, historical; Canada, provinces, Economic regions What else? Good perspective of seasonal adjusted and unadjusted rates with PEI Where do I find…? On the handout Which brings us to the fun bits…
Sightings: LFS Definitions Frictionally unemployed: I just quit my job because I had a good offer to go and make sandpaper in Ontario next month Structurally unemployed: Nobody seems to want their typewriter rebuilt anymore. Cyclically unemployed: Mostly I do a little gardening, but when election time rolls around, I can usually get work fixing up roads.
Sightings: CPI terms
Sightings: CPI Terms What is it: an index which shows average level of prices of a basket of goods and services bought by a typical urban Canadian family. Why patrons want it: key indicator of economic performance Key thing to know: a) CPI is an index, not a price list; b) the basket changes; c ) the base year changes
Sightings: CPI terms Availability: Found on STC web site, CANSIM, etc.; annual, monthly, historical; Canada, provincial, urban centres; All-items & by sector What else? Basket from SHS and one of many indexes produced by STC Where can I find…? On the handout The fun continues…
Sightings: CPI Definitions The Basket (quantity & quality): Sports Jacket: single breasted, size regular; wool tweed, grams per metre; lining, attached by zig-zag stitch and of full acetate, rayon or taffeta, 2 welted inside pockets of same fabric Laptops and airline tickets : CPI can overestimate change. E.g. If laptops expensive and air tickets cheap, few people bought laptops so not in basket. But laptops cheap and air tickets expensive, so with both in basket, only increase in ticket prices shows
Sightings: GDP terms
What is it: unduplicated value of goods and services produced in Canada Why patrons want it: measure of market-based economic activity within Canadas borders Key thing to know: Differs from GNP; varies from country to country; many flavours
Sightings: GDP terms Availability: Found on STC web site, CANSIM, etc. annual, monthly, quarterly; Canada, provinces What else? Fits into the NIEA sector activity; perspective of industry or of consumer; base year concept Where do I find…? On the handout Which brings us to the fun bits…
Sightings: GDP Definitions Market based: Doesnt count illegal activities (like illegal drug marketing); nor selling used goods (already counted once) unless selling if for scrap; nor non-market exchanges, like giving someone a pig to plough your driveway; nor financial assets (unless you buy stocks to use intentionally as wallpaper).
Sightings: GDP Definitions Is upward always healthy? Not all increases in GDP make people better off: fixing flood damage takes us back to where we were but adds to the GDP.
The question is, said Alice, whether you can make words mean different things. The question is, said Humpty Dumpty, which is to be master thats all. The Conclusion…