1. The Current Situation of Urban Statistics
By Berthold Feldmann

2. AIM OF THIS TALK:
Inform you what Eurostat (and DG REGIO) have achieved so far in the domain of Urban Statistics

3. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Structure of this talk
Growing need for Urban Statistics
European Needs
The role of Eurostat
Achievements so far
analysis of requirements
definition of urban indicators
urban statistics database
remote sensing
urban audit - pilot project
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

4. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Growing need
Globalisation and information society change the role of urban agglomerations
Changes offer opportunities and dangers of urban development
Information is essential for policy makers (at all levels)
Comparison requires harmonisation
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

5. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
European Needs
Discussion paper of the Commission in 1997
need for a comparable data set
Commission document of 1998 on sustainability
Structural funds
Objective 2 zones of eligibility
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

6. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
The role of Eurostat
Harmonisation of concepts,
co-ordination of producers and users of urban statistics,
data collection and
dissemination.
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

7. The actors to co-ordinate
Interest-
groups
Consultants
DG REGIO
Cities
Eurostat
National
Statistical
Offices
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

8. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Achievements so far
Analysis of requirements
Definition of Urban Indicators
Urban Statistics Database
Remote Sensing
Urban Audit - pilot project
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

9. Analysis of Requirements
1997 study by professor POULAIN
Demand
Commission
public at large
Availability of data
NUTS 5 data (SIRE)
Labour Force Survey (NUTS 2 level)
Importance of Comparability
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

10. Definition of Urban Indicators
Contract with ANITE
183 variables identified
report on data sources and availability
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

11. Urban Statistics Database (USD)
Contract with G.I.M.
Follows Professor Poulain’s recommendations
Combines data from
SIRE (NUTS 5 level)
LFS (NUTS 2 level)
household budget survey
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

12. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Remote Sensing
Several projects via satellite proved operational (primarily for agriculture statistics)
directed by Eurostat and NSOs on the basis of common tender specifications
Helps to define Urban Agglomerations
costs = quite high
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

13. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Urban Audit
Contract with ERECO
started 1998, duration = 1 year
only a pilot project
sets out to measure quality of life in 58 cities
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

14. Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999
Conclusion
Several interesting projects ongoing
Thorough evaluation needed
rather use existing data than start new (costly) surveys
Emphasis on international comparability
5/12/1999
Working Party on Urban Statistics - December 1999

15. Thanks
for
your
attention
Any questions ??